Time to snuggle up, grab a book, or watch a movie with delicious snacks and a drink. It’s also such a beautiful time of year with all the lights and decorations and celebrations with friends and family. If you’re hosting or attending any parties this season, we’ve collected a list of 10 cocktails that will make your friends wonder when you had the time to attend bartending school. Whether you prefer classic or unique, or non-alcoholic, we’ve got your mixology covered. Let us know in the comments which one you liked best!

Ingredients listed in bold are available at select Rite Aid stores. 

*Note: Alcohol selection will vary by state. All persons should be 21+ years old to participate in this content.

Mulled Wine

Makes 4 – 6 servings
Ingredients:
1 750 mL bottle of dry red wine
1/4 cup Grand Marnier
1 orange, sliced into rounds
2 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise
2 to 4 tablespoons honey

Add wine, brandy, orange slices, cloves, cinnamon, star anise, and 2 tablespoons sweetener to a large saucepan. Stir briefly to combine.

Cook the mulled wine on medium-high heat until it just barely reaches a simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let the wine simmer for at least 15 minutes or up to 3 hours.

Using a fine mesh strainer, remove and discard the orange slices, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise. Give the mulled wine a taste, and stir in extra sweetener if needed.

Serve warm in heatproof mugs.

Modified from: https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/mulled-wine-recipe/#tasty-recipes-61790

Santa’s Hat

Makes 2 servings
Ingredients:
Ice
1 oz Crown Royal
1 oz amaretto liqueur
2 oz Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice
Sugar for rim

Rim shot glasses with sugar. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour the whisky, amaretto, and cranberry juice. Shake well. Strain into two shot glasses.

Modified from: https://www.thespruceeats.com/red-snapper-shot-recipe-761625

Snowball Cocktail

Makes 4 servings
Ingredients:
Finely-crushed candy canes
1 1/2 oz. white chocolate liqueur
1 oz. Rum
1/2 oz. ginger liqueur
Ice
Water

Dip the rim of the glass with water and add the finely crushed candy canes. Combine white chocolate liqueur, rum, ginger liqueur, and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously, then strain into prepared glass.

Modified from: https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/a29625988/driven-snow-cocktail-recipe/

Holiday Cookie Martini

Makes 6 servings
Ingredients:
Sprinkles
Vanilla icing
1.5 oz. vanilla vodka
1.5 oz. Baileys Irish Cream
.75 oz. amaretto
1 tsp. confectioner’s sugar
3 tbsp. milk or Half & Half
1 cup ice

Rim the glass vanilla icing and sprinkles until coated. Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until chilled and strain into a prepared martini glass.

Modified from: https://www.3yummytummies.com/sugar-cookie-martini/

Apple Cider Sangria

Makes 6 servings
Ingredients:
2 small apples, thinly sliced
1 medium lemon, cut into wedges
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
2 cups apple cider
1/2 cup Crown Royal Whisky
1/4 cup Brandy
1 1/2 cups Sparkling Wine
Cinnamon and sugar mixture for rim
Cinnamon sticks and star anise for garnish

Rim glasses with cinnamon and sugar. To a large pitcher, add apple, lemon, and pomegranate seeds. pour apple cider into the pitcher, followed by whiskey, and brandy. Refrigerate for a few hours and add the sparkling wine right before serving. Pour sangria into glasses and garnish each glass with a cinnamon stick and a star anise.

Modified from: https://www.recipegirl.com/apple-cider-sangria/

Bourbon Flip

Ingredients:
2 ounces Maker’s Mark Bourbon
1 ounce simple syrup
1 large egg
3 to 4 ice cubes
freshly grated nutmeg for garnish

Add the bourbon, simple syrup, egg, and ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake well for 2 minutes. Strain the cocktail into a coupe or champagne saucer glass. Top with freshly grated nutmeg. Serve immediately.

Modified from: https://breadboozebacon.com/bourbon-flip/

Spiked Grinch Punch

Makes 12 servings
Ingredients:
1 (0.13-oz.) packet Kool-Aid Lemon Lime mix
4 cups water
4 cups ice
3 cups 7UP
2 cups Dole Pineapple Juice
2 cups Tito’s Handmade Vodka
1 cup Canada Dry Ginger Ale
Lime wedges, for rimming
Red sanding sugar, for rimming

In a large pitcher combine Kool-Aid and water. In a large punch bowl, combine ice, kool-aid, soda, pineapple juice, vodka, and ginger ale. Use a lime wedge to rim glasses and dip in sanding sugar to coat. Pour punch into glasses to serve.

Modified from: https://www.delish.com/holiday-recipes/christmas/a29813140/spiked-grinch-punch-recipe/

Non-Alcoholic Beverages

Peppermint Bark Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:
1 packet Swiss Hot Chocolate Mix
Ghirardelli Chocolate Peppermint Bark
Whipped cream topping
Chocolate syrup
Crushed candy canes

Prepare the hot chocolate according to the package instructions. While still hot, add a piece of peppermint bark and stir to dissolve. Top with whipped cream, drizzle with chocolate syrup and sprinkle with crushed candy canes.

Modified from: https://www.browneyedbaker.com/peppermint-bark-hot-chocolate/

Cranberry Orange Spritz

Makes 15 servings
Ingredients:
1 liter San Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water, chilled – for extra flavor try Bubly Grapefruit Sparkling Water
2 cups Tropicana Orange Juice
4 cups Canada Dry Ginger Ale, chilled
2 cups Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice
1-2 cups frozen cranberries
Sugar

In a large punch bowl, mix together chilled sparkling water and orange juice. Next, add in chilled ginger ale and stir. Then stir in cranberry juice cocktail and mix everything. Pour drinks in individual cups and garnish with sugar dusted frozen cranberries to serve.

Modified from: https://www.darcyandbrian.com/cranberry-orange-non-alcoholic-drink-recipe/

Holiday Punch with Cranberries

Makes 15 servings

Ingredients:
2 liters Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice
2 liters Canada Dry Ginger Ale
1 lb. frozen cranberries
1 orange sliced
2 limes sliced
Rosemary sprig to garnish

Combine the cranberry juice, ginger ale in a large punch bowl. Add the frozen cranberries, orange slices, lime slices and ice. Garnish with a small orange slice on the rim of the glass and a fresh rosemary.

Modified from: https://petersfoodadventures.com/christmas-punch/

Article was originally posted on Bartell Drugs and modified for use.