This holiday season, we asked you, our readers, to share your favourite festive drink recipes—and you delivered! Whether you're hosting a lively gathering or savouring a quiet moment by the fire, these reader-approved cocktail recipes are sure to add a splash of joy to your celebrations. For those who prefer to skip the spirits, check out these holiday mocktails. Cheers!

Orange-Ginger Pomegranate Punch

Recommended by Annie Brandner 

Years ago, while living in Toronto, I attended a holiday party hosted by dear friends who are truly exceptional hosts. Their magic lies in the perfect combination of one partner’s passion for gathering her people and the other’s incredible talent for (and hard work at) curating and creating unforgettable food and drinks. That evening, they served a signature cocktail so delicious it has stayed with me ever since. I reached out to them for the recipe, and they helped me track it down. I’m so excited to share it with you here. If you make it, please let me know!  

Originally featured in Better Homes & Gardens

Ingredients

• ½ cup Water
• ½ cup Sugar
• 5 Thin slices peeled fresh ginger
• 2 Fresh rosemary sprigs plus more for garnish
• 2 Cups pomegranate juice
• 1 Cup orange liqueur (Triple Sec or Cointreau)
• 1 750 ml bottle of Prosecco
• Orange slices for garnish

‍Instructions

Syrup: In a small saucepan combine water, sugar, ginger slices, and rosemary sprigs. 

Cook and stir until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. 

Cover and let stand for 30 minutes.

Strain. 

In a punch bowl combine syrup, pomegranate juice, and orange liqueur. Add a bottle of prosecco. 

Serve over ice with fresh rosemary sprigs and orange slice 
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Amaretto Bourbon Sour

Recommended by Alyson Morgan

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz Bourbon
• 1/2 oz  Amaretto
• ¾ oz    Lemon juice
• ¾ oz   Simple syrup
• ¾ oz    Egg white

‍Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake dry then wet, strain over rocks glass.

Shake dry: Shake the ingredients in a cocktail shaker without ice. 

Shake wet: After the dry shake, add ice to the shaker and shake again. 

Strain over rocks glass: Pour the drink through a strainer into a short tumbler typically used for drinks served over ice.

Optional garnishes

• Angostura bitter hearts: Place 4-5 drops of bitters on top of foam in glass. Using a toothpick create hearts or other shapes by drawing the toothpick through the bitter.
• Lemon twist and a brandied cherry
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Pomegranate Rosemary Gin Sparkler

Recommended by Nicki Lang

In my search for that festive bevy I had enjoyed all those years ago, I reached out to Nicki Lang, a contributor to this issue, and, as it turns out, the one who had originally shared the recipe with those friends! The first recommendation she made was this delicious, festive Pomegranate Rosemary Gin Sparkler from We are not Martha, Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 cup Sugar
• 1 cup Water
• 2 Sprigs rosemary, plus more for garnish
• 6 oz. Pomegranate juice
• 3 oz. Gin
• Soda water, to top
• Pomegranate arils, for garnish and/or ice cubes (optional)

Read the full Pomegranate Rosemary Gin Sparkler recipe and instructions here. 
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Lion’s Tail

Recommended by Alyson Morgan

Ingredients

• 2 oz Bourbon
• ½ oz Allspice dram
• ½ oz Lime juice, freshly squeezed
• 1 teaspoon Simple syrup
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Garnish: orange twist

Read the full Lion’s Tail recipe and instructions here. 

Alyson also shared this DIY allspice dram recipe to accompany the Lion's Tail.
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The Christmas Crantini 

Submitted by Lana Higginbotham 

Ingredients

• 3 oz Vodka
• 1 oz Orange liqueur (Triple Sec or Cointreau)
  1 ½ oz Simple syrup
• 3 oz Real cranberry juice (not cranberry cocktail)
• 1 cup Ice cubes

‍Instructions

Combine in a cocktail shaker and pour into martini glasses. Garnish with sugar, sugared cranberries, fresh rosemary or orange slices.                  

If you’re feeling particularly festive and adventurous, Lana suggests presenting these in clear, clean Christmas ornaments! Use a funnel to pour cocktail mixture into the ornaments. Place filled ornaments in a muffin pan and place in the refrigerator until just before guests arrive. Place ornaments into martini glasses and garnish around the ornament.

Notes: 

• If you need to substitute cranberry cocktail, omit the simple sugar and add an additional 1.5 ounces of juice.
• Simple syrup – this is easy to make yourself with equal portions of sugar and water.  Boil and stir until sugar dissolves then remove from heat and let cool.  
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