‘Tis the season! The turkey is cooking, presents are opened, people are arriving, and they need drinks. So what do you serve to keep the merriment flowing and kick the celebrations up a notch? Try these five festive cocktails guaranteed to satisfy any guest’s taste. These cocktails are perfect with dinner, by the pool, or even as a nightcap to end the year.

Eastern Breeze

This vegan cocktail couldn’t be easier to prepare, especially for larger parties. Prep time is about 10 minutes and has 4 basic ingredients. All you need is vodka, mint leaves, pomegranate seeds, and apple juice! Find the full recipe here.

Espresso Martini

With the lead up to Christmas being so hectic, making an espresso martini for after dinner drinks is the perfect ‘pick me up’ for you and your guests. My personal favourite is a classic espresso martini. You need is freshly brewed coffee, vodka and coffee liqueur. If you love a strong coffee, why not prepare coffee ice cubes, so your martini isn’t watered down. Remember, Christmas is a time to indulge! Add a twist to these recipes for tiramisu and salted caramel espresso martinis.

Red Wine Hot Chocolate

Given that this is Australia and it’s summer, this one is a bit strange. Yet it’s a perfect nightcap once the dishes are cleared, the guestss are gone, and it’s time to wind down. Dark chocolate and red wine are a match made in heaven, so why not combine the two into this decadent holiday treat. All you’ll need is a bittersweet chocolate, a fruity red wine and a cup of milk. For a more intense chocolate flavour add a pinch of salt. Then sugar to taste.

Eggnog

If you’ve seen any Christmas movie ever, you’ve always wanted to taste this festive classic. This one takes more prep time and planning but is totally worth it in the end. With an ingredient list as long as your arm, it’s not one for the light hearted. You’ll need: Milk, cloves, egg yolks, vanilla extract, cream and rum. Not to mention an array of Christmassy spices like nutmeg and cinnamon, with more to garnish.

Cranberry Sea Breeze Punch

If you spend Christmas by the pool, soaking up the rays, then this one is for you! It’s a refreshing punch  you can whip together with no fuss to keep everyone happy! The obvious ingredient is cranberries which you’ll have to freeze ahead of time to include in the punch for added kick. After this, you’ll need vodka, grapefruit juice, and some limes.

So kick back and enjoy the festivities!