Description

Big Batch Christmas Cocktails are festive, easy-to-make drinks designed for holiday gatherings. Featuring a blend of holiday spices, seasonal fruit juices, and your choice of spirits, these shareable cocktails keep the celebration merry and allow effortless entertaining. Perfect for any size crowd, customizable for dietary preferences and non-alcoholic options, they bring warm seasonal flavors and a refreshing fizz to your festive parties.

Ingredients

Base Spirit

Vodka, rum, or whiskey (amount as per batch size, e.g. 750ml or more)

Seasonal Fruit Juices

Cranberry juice (2 cups)
Apple juice (2 cups)
Orange juice (1 cup)

Sweeteners

Maple syrup, honey, or simple syrup (1/4 to 1/2 cup, adjust to taste)

Spices and Herbs

Cinnamon sticks (3-4 sticks)
Cloves (5-6 whole cloves)
Fresh rosemary sprigs (2-3 sprigs)

Carbonation

Ginger ale, sparkling water, or soda (about 2 cups, added before serving)

Garnishes

Fresh cranberries (handful)
Orange slices (for garnish)
Star anise (2-3 pieces)

Instructions

Gather and Prepare Ingredients: Measure out the base spirit, fruit juices, sweeteners, and spices. Wash and slice fresh garnishes such as orange slices and prepare rosemary sprigs and cranberries.
Combine the Liquids: In a large punch bowl or pitcher, pour in the base spirit followed by the cranberry, apple, and orange juices along with the chosen sweetener. Stir gently to mix the ingredients thoroughly.
Add Spices and Chill: Add cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and rosemary sprigs into the mixture. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow flavors to meld and develop fully.
Add Carbonation Before Serving: Just before serving, stir in the ginger ale, sparkling water, or soda carefully to maintain the fizz and a refreshing taste.
Garnish and Serve: Float fresh cranberries, orange slices, and star anise on top. Serve over ice in festive glasses or mason jars to complete the holiday presentation.

Notes

Chill all ingredients and glasses beforehand for the best refreshing experience.
Adjust sweetness gradually, starting with less syrup and adding more after chilling if needed.
Use whole spices for richer flavor extraction compared to ground spices.
Taste the cocktail batch in advance to tweak sweetness and carbonation levels.
Prep garnishes ahead of time to focus on guests during the party.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Cocktail
Method: Mixing and Chilling
Cuisine: Holiday / American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup (approximate)
Calories: 150-200 (depending on alcohol and sweetener choice)
Sugar: 15-25g (variable based on sweetener used)
Sodium: 10-20mg
Fat: 0g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 0g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 20-30g
Fiber: 0.5g
Protein: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg

Keywords: Christmas cocktails, holiday batch drinks, festive cocktails, big batch drinks, party cocktails, shareable cocktails