Christmas is a time of celebration. While eggnog is a tried and true tradition for Christmas, it’s rather conventional. And what drink do people tend to turn to in times of celebration? Champagne, of course! But, by itself, champagne can be sort of… well, boring. And no one wants a boring beverage (or a boring anything else, really) for Christmas. Here is a list of champagne cocktails for Christmas:
Creative Champagne Cocktails for Christmas:
- Bubbly Maple Leaf Cocktail: Scotch, maple syrup, shot of lime juice, champagne You wouldn’t ordinarily think of maple champagne drinks, but this seems like a great drink with (or after) pecan pie.
- Peppermint White Christmas Cocktail: white crème de cocoa, champagne, a candy cane Candy canes are a favored treat during the holidays, and this drink makes great use of them! The addition of a candy cane in the drink gives it a great flavor and just a touch of style.
- Poinsettias: champagne, Cointreau, cranberry juice Traditional Poinsettias aren’t exactly heavy on the alcohol. But, they are red-tinted, like their namesake, the Poinsettia flower. If you want a “harder” option, simply substitute the Cointreau with either vodka or gin.
- Pear Ginger Sage Cocktails: pears, ginger, sage leaves, champagne Candied pears frequent Christmas dinner tables, and this drink would be excellent with them! It’s made by making a sort of syrup out of honey, water, pears, ginger and sage leaves, and then topped with champagne. It sounds like a crazy combination, but it’s sweet and refreshing.
- Elderflower Champagne Cocktail: St-Germain, champagne This drink is made with St-Germain, which is a French liqueur made from elderflowers that come from the Alps. To make it, fill a tumbler with ice, fill it ¾ of the way full with champagne and then top it off with St-Germain. It’s simple and delicious!
Fruity Champagne Cocktails for Christmas:
- Sparkling Apple Pie Cocktail: cinnamon Schnapps, apple cider, champagne and honey You’ll probably see lots of pies to eat for Christmas dinner. But this takes pie to a whole new level by giving you drinkable apple pie excellence. With the combination of Snapps and champagne, you may want to pace yourself with these tasty drinks.
- Strawberry Basil Bellini: strawberries, champagne, basil leaves This may sound like an odd combination, but its taste is reminiscent of strawberries on salad and the green, red and white colors are very festive. It’s made by making a puree out of strawberries and syrup, topping it with champagne and garnishing with fresh basil leaves.
- Raspberry Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail: pomegranate juice, raspberry sorbet, pomegranate seeds, champagne These dessert cocktails are an excellent way to add a bit of color to your get-together, and simple to create. They’re made by putting some pomegranate juice, a few scoops of raspberry sorbet and some pomegranate seeds in the bottom of a glass and then topping it off with champagne.
- Drunk Jack Frosties: vodka, champagne, blue curacao, lemonade, ice These blended drinks are like drinking an alcoholic slushy. Their blue color is sure to be an enticing addition to any holiday party.
- Red Currant Champagne Cocktails: red currants, champagne Red currants not only add some Christmas color to the drinks, they add fruity flavor. They’re also really easy to make. Simply puree the currants, add them to a champagne flute and pour champagne over the puree.
- Pear Cranberry Bellinis: pear nectar, cranberry juice, champagne Cranberry, a Christmas favorite, is sweetened with pear, balancing out this merry bellini. It’s made with pear nectar, cranberry juice and champagne, making it nearly as good for you as it is good.
- Cape Cod Champagne Cocktail: cranberries, cranberry juice, vodka, champagne The name may not be Christmas-y but this cocktail is made with lots of cranberry, and garnished with lime and mint, giving it a festive red-and-green color. It’s made by making a syrup out of fresh cranberries, sugar and water, mixed with cranberry juice, vodka and champagne and then poured into a flute.
Champagne Cocktails for the Gents:
- Kir Royale: crème de cassis, champagne This cocktail is simple, taking only seconds to make. But, even if it isn’t complicated to make, it’s still elegant and classy. Made from a teaspoon of crème de cassis in the bottom of a champagne flute and then topped with champagne, Kir Royales make an excellent drink before dinner.
- French 75: gin, champagne, lemon juice, ice and bitters If you want a cocktail with a bit of a kick to it, the French 75 is the way to go. It gets its name from a .75 mm bullet because of the kick that comes from the combination of gin and champagne. You can substitute rye whiskey for the gin, creating a Raymond Massey (named after the Canadian actor).
- Black Velvet: champagne, stout beer This classy drink was made in remembrance of Prince Albert, all the way back in 1861. It’s made by filling a pilsner glass halfway full of champagne and then floating a stout beer on it. The different densities in the two liquids create a layered effect that is as fun to look at as it is to drink.
- Prince of Wales: champagne, rye, Marischino liqueur, bitters, pineapple This was a drink created by Prince Albert Edward, who was later crowned King Edward VII. It’s comprised of lots of alcohol, bitters, a piece of pineapple and some sugar. It packs a punch, but is easy to drink. So, you might want to watch it with this drink.
- Death in the Afternoon: absinthe, champagne If your family is driving you insane, or you’re extremely adventurous, this cocktail is going to sound like a good idea to you. Earnest Hemingway, notorious for his drinking prowess, invented this drink. It’s a mixture of absinthe and champagne. He could drink 3-5 of them in one sitting, but that’s not at all recommended!
Crowd Pleasers:
- Champagne Margaritas: white tequila, Triple Sec, champagne, lime juice This is a fun twist on an old favorite. It’s made with white tequila, Triple Sec, champagne and lime juice. Adding a sugared rim adds a bit of sweetness and a nice visual aspect.
- Champagne Punch: champagne, ginger ale, Triple Sec, basil leaves, cranberries If you serve this punch at your Christmas party, no one will have to spike it! It’s made with champagne, ginger ale, Triple Sec, basil leaves and cranberries, giving it a fruity taste, plenty of kick (or punch) and a festive look.
- Christmosas: Granny Smith apples, whole cranberries, green grapes, pomegranate seeds, sparkling grape juice, champagne This is a type of fruity, alcoholic punch that is sure to be a big hit with guests. It’s made with chopped fruits, sparkling grape juice and a whole bottle of champagne. It’s a punch you can both eat AND drink.
- Pomegranate Orange Punch: pomegranate juice, champagne, ginger beer, orange juice, orange slices, pomegranate seeds This champagne punch is as colorful as it is tasty. Since it’s made with seasonal citrus favorites, adding a cinnamon stick gives it a little something extra.
Any of these champagne cocktails would make an excellent addition to a Christmas party, or even just a small get-together. If champagne isn’t usually your thing, try one of the cocktails that also has other liquor varieties in it. Also, champagne is versatile enough that you can get creative and use just about