These Christmas Martini Recipes Will Up Your Holiday Celebration (2024)

FAQs

What is the most popular Christmas alcoholic drink? ›

1. Christmas punch. That's right; a classic Christmas punch is the most popular holiday drink in America. While there are many ways to make it, the classic Christmas punch recipe includes juice, cider, rum, sparkling wine and fresh fruit.

DIRTY. For those who like their co*cktails to have a savoury edge, the Dirty Martini is a delicious, slightly salty, choice. The term 'dirty' means that olive brine, usually from a jar of co*cktail olives, has been added to the drink. An olive garnish is typically assumed, too.

All vodka martini co*cktails should be served “straight up” because that term simply describes co*cktails that are shaken or stirred with ice, then strained. A martini co*cktail “up” basically means the same thing — served cold without the ice — although this term is typically reserved for single liquors, not co*cktails.

Eggnog. Of all the holiday co*cktails you can mix up, few are as fitting as a glass of homemade eggnog. It's a luscious, creamy drink that many crave when December rolls around and it often brings back fond memories. Eggnog is not difficult to make from scratch and it's tastier than most store-bought options.

Scroll through this list for timeless holiday classics like Eggnog and Hot Buttered Rum; boozy versions of hot chocolate; and new riffs on classics like our Cranberry Ginger Mimosa and a Negroni that tastes like a Christmas tree. We've also included decadent after-dinner drinks and punches for a crowd.

A Wet Martini co*cktail contains a higher proportion of vermouth compared to vodka. A dry martini co*cktail has a lower proportion of vermouth. Martini co*cktails can be served in a wide variety of taste profiles — see all the ways you can make one at home.

If you're the superstitious type, you may want to know that tradition states that serving olives in even numbers is bad luck. So one or three olives are great, but two? Not so much. Also, many martini co*cktail lovers like to have a salty snack to eat throughout their co*cktail, from first sip to last drop.

The Dry Martini

This variation is made with just gin and garnished with a twist of lemon or olive. The absence of vermouth gives the dry martini a stronger, more pronounced gin flavor, making it a preferred choice for those who enjoy the taste of gin in its purest form.

Order your martini wet, dry, or extra dry.

These terms refer to the ratio of gin or vodka to vermouth. If you do not specify what you want, you will be served a martini with a standard ratio. A wet martini is a martini with extra vermouth. A dry martini refers to a martini with less vermouth in it.

What does a twist mean in a martini? ›

Classic martinis are typically either garnished with an olive or multiple olives on a skewer for a savory infusion. While ordering your co*cktail “with a twist” means that your co*cktail will come with a piece of lemon rind giving your martini a bit of a citrusy taste.

Two fingers is an old way of measuring spirits, the equivalent of two finger widths, and useful only if you do not have any other way of measuring out equal pours. It's not a particularly good unit of measure as the volume poured will vary with the diameter of the glass you're using.

Everyone knows that Santa's favorite way to wash down his plate of cookies is with a big glass of eggnog. This tradition has been around for decades, but have you ever asked yourself why? When did drinking this egg and milk concoction become a holiday tradition?

Eggnog remains a Christmas standard

Eggnog's popularity has a long history in the U.S., and was inspired by a similar British drink that colonists adapted. In the 1700s, people sipped eggnog to stay warm during the cold months, often spiking it with rum.

Glühwein (Mulled Wine)

Glühwein is THE Christmas market drink.

Throughout Canada, the United States and some European countries, eggnog is traditionally consumed over the Christmas season, from late October until the end of the holiday season.