Festive Cocktail Recipes for Entertaining

Out of office on. Four favourite words this time of year right? I am usually so organised with gifts and my wrapping, but this year it’s been a little different! I left it until the weekend before. I’ve been getting my head stuck into work, decking out my apartment before Christmas, and obviously filling my fridge before the Christmas festivities start. After all, I will be heading back to the Australian sun in January so it’s the perfect time to get friends and family over to enjoy some much needed quality time for my favourite time of the year.

I feel most peoples head are a pickle in December, and by pickle I mean rushing around not planning the small details as you hoped. So this is where I step in. After all, Tis the season to be jolly, so I’ve listed my four favourite cocktails below for the holiday season. Thank you Samsung for always making hosting so much easier. 

Winter Sidecar 

Ingredients: 

50ml Grand Marnier 

15ml Clementine Juice 

30ml Martini Bianco 

Ground Cinnamon 

Cinnamon Sticks for garnish

Method: Moisten the rim of a cocktail glass with clementine juice. Sprinkle cinnamon powder onto a small plate and dip the rim of the glass into the powder. Shake all remaining ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain. 

Christmas Noel 

Ingredients: 

40ml Grand Marnier 

30ml Creme Brûlée Liquor (I picked up mine from Marks and Spencer) 

30ml almond milk 

15ml double cream 

1 tsp peeled pistachios

Method: Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, and strain over a stemmed cocktail glass. Grate pistachios as a garnish. 

Kir Royale 

Ingredients: 

1 tbsp Creme De Cassis 

Champagne 

2 Fresh blackberries

Method: Pour the Creme De Cassis into a champagne flute. Top with chilled Champagne and garnish with the blackberries.

Cranberry Spice Mocktail 

Ingredients: 

50ml sparkling water 

50ml cranberry juice 

4 dashes of bitters 

75ml apple cider 

10 cranberries 

orange wedge

Method: Muddle cranberries and orange wedge in the cranberry juice, and then pour the rest of the ingredients and stir with a spoon. Garnish with cranberries and orange peel and serve on ice. 

So get your fridge stocked, the festive playlist on, and your finest threads on to entertain at home. There is no better way to commemorate Christmas time than through some family photography. Gather up your beautiful family and clink glasses in front of the camera. Have a wonderful Christmas and New year! 

Photography and Creative Direction by yours truly 

Collaboration in partnership with Samsung Home Appliances