As December settles in, the calendar fills with invitations that call for something more than the ordinary pour. This is the season of lingering dinners, late-night toasts, and small rituals that mark the passage from one year to the next. A well-made cocktail, thoughtfully chosen, becomes part of that ceremony—an expression of warmth, restraint, and quiet celebration. The following three drinks are designed to move gracefully from Christmas through New Year’s Eve, balancing winter’s deeper notes with brightness and lift, and offering the kind of elegance that feels timeless rather than trendy.
Winter Citrus Vesper
Clean and bracing with a subtle nod to holiday abundance, this cocktail layers gin and vodka with bright citrus and a whisper of aromatics. It’s a drink that feels crisp enough for Christmas afternoon yet refined enough to carry you straight into New Year’s Eve, offering clarity and lift rather than heaviness.
Recipe
- 1.5 oz London dry gin
- 0.5 oz vodka
- 0.5 oz Lillet Blanc
- 0.25 oz fresh grapefruit juice
- Lemon twist, for garnish
Shake lightly with ice and strain into a chilled coupe. Express the lemon twist over the surface and discard or garnish.
Yuletide Old Fashioned
A winter-forward take on a classic, this Old Fashioned is built for slow evenings and long conversations. Bourbon’s warmth is complemented by spiced cranberry and a hint of orange, creating a cocktail that feels both familiar and distinctly seasonal—perfect from Christmas dinner through New Year’s Eve.
Recipe
- 2 oz Knob Creek bourbon
- 0.25 oz spiced cranberry syrup
- 1 barspoon demerara syrup
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Orange peel and fresh cranberry, for garnish
Stir with ice and strain over a large cube in a rocks glass. Garnish with expressed orange peel.
New Year’s Eve Spark
Bright, celebratory, and built for a toast, this sparkling cocktail balances acidity and fruit with just enough sweetness to feel festive without being heavy. Pomegranate and citrus bring color and lift, while sparkling wine carries the drink straight into midnight.
Recipe
- 1 oz Ketel One vodka
- 0.5 oz pomegranate juice
- 0.25 oz fresh lemon juice
- 0.25 oz simple syrup
- Sparkling wine, to top
- Pomegranate arils, for garnish
Shake the first four ingredients with ice. Strain into a flute and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with pomegranate arils.
