The countdown to Christmas is on, and that means Cousin Eddy, Buddy the Elf and Bing Crosby have taken up permanent residence in our homes and on our TV screens. ‘Tis the season to eat, drink and be merry, so we’ve partnered with ABC Fine Wine & Spirits to bring you 9 festive cocktail recipes to sip as you watch 9 staple Christmas movies this holiday season.
Ready your finest fuzzy socks and Buffalo plaid PJs, because this movie pairings list is going to make this year’s holiday movie marathon one for the books.
If you go overboard, snag The Bytox Hangover Patch, it is a formulated patch that replenishes the vital levels of vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants your body loses when you consume alcohol. We used them for a girls night and we loved them!
We applied the Bytox Patch 45 minutes before consuming alcohol.
Let’s begin with the best holiday cocktail for one of the most iconic Christmas movies: eggnog and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. It doesn’t matter if you make it from scratch or buy it pre–bottled; the only requirement is that you sip it in a moose glass while wearing a white sweater and a black dickie. Guaranteed to be a holiday sipper that’s *tongue click* real nice.
Homemade Eggnog
The Recipe:
• 6 eggs, separated
• 1 cup sugar, split into ¾ and ¼ portions
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 8 ounces Cooper’s Mark Bourbon, Herve Superior Reserve VSOP Brandy or Palms Spiced Rum
• 16 ounces heavy cream
• 16 ounces whole milk
• Freshly ground nutmeg
Separate eggs into yolks and egg whites. In a medium bowl, beat egg yolks and add ¼ cup of sugar until the yolks are lighter in color and the sugar is dissolved. Add the milk, cream, spirit of your choice and salt and whisk it all together. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites and remaining sugar until you have stiff peaks. Gently fold the egg whites into the bowl with your creamy mixture. Chill for three hours before serving. Top each glass with freshly ground nutmeg. Serves 10–12.
Want to see how to make it? Watch this video.
Elf: Maple Bourbon Coffee
Syrup in coffee?! Why didn’t we think of that?
Enjoy Buddy the Elf’s favorite food group in this spiked coffee recipe. For the ultimate themed pairing, enjoy with a hot plate of spaghetti (chocolate syrup, marshmallows and Pop Tarts optional).
• 4 cups coffee, strongly brewed
• 4 cups whole milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 9 ounces Cooper’s Mark Maple Bourbon
• Whipped cream
• Grated cinnamon
A Christmas Story: Michaels Hot Chocolate
Oh fuuuuuuudge…this boozy hot chocolate recipe is all we want for Christmas. Make this spiked recipe with meatloaf (double beat loaf) and curl up on the couch for instant holiday coziness. Go on, we triple dog dare ya to make this.
Michaels Hot Chocolate
The Recipe:
• 2 ounces Michaels Irish Cream Liqueur
• 5 ounces hot chocolate
• Mini marshmallows
• Chocolate drizzle
Add cream liqueur to hot chocolate and stir to combine. Top with marshmallows and drizzle with chocolate.
Home Alone: Captain Morgan Home for the Holidays Punch
There’s no place like home for the holidays…unless you’re fending off two burglars by yourself. Try this refreshing batch holiday punch recipe that’s simple enough for anyone to make, even les incompetents. Serve with delivery pizza, of course.
Captain Morgan Home for the Holidays Punch
The Recipe:
• 4 cups cranberry juice
• 4 ounces simple syrup
• 1 ½ cups lemon–lime soda
• 1 ½ cups seltzer
• 4 scoops lime sorbet
• 4 – 5 mint sprigs
• 4 lime rounds
• ½ cup cranberries
Love Actually: All Hot ‘n’ Buttered
Whip up this perfected hot buttered rum recipe to savor as you laugh, cry and dance to The PointerSisters. You’ll love this recipe so much that you’ll silently declare your love for it on poster boards.
The Recipe:
• 6 ounces hot apple cider
• 2 tablespoons hot buttered rum mix*
• 1 ½ ounces Ballotin Caramel Turtle Chocolate Whiskey
• ½ ounce El Dorado Rum 12 Year
• Whipped cream
• Cinnamon stick
• Star anise
• 1 stick of butter, room temperature
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
For the cocktail: Heat apple cider in a microwave–proof mug until very hot but not boiling. Add in hot buttered rum mix, whiskey and rum and stir well. Top with whipped cream and garnish with a cinnamon stick and star anise.
Literally any Hallmark movie ever: Mistletoe Margaritas
(Don’t lie, you know you watched these in July.)
Whatever’s playing on the Hallmark channel, watch it with a tall Mistletoe Margarita in hand. Take a sip every time an almost–kiss is interrupted, a spontaneous snowball fight breaks out or the big shot businesswoman turns down a promotion to settle into a quiet, provincial life with a rugged guy after discovering the true meaning of Christmas.
• 2 cups Los Rijos Silver Tequila
• 1 cup Charles Regnier Triple Sec
• 2 ½ cups cranberry juice
• 1 ¼ cups lime juice
• 1 cup simple syrup
• Sugar
• Fresh cranberries
White Christmas: White Christmas
• 1 ounce 1941 Vodka
• 1 ounce Charles Regnier Amaretto
• 1 ounce heavy cream
Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Grinch Punch
• 1 packet Kool–Aid Lemon Lime mix
• 32 ounces water
• 16 ounces 1941 Craft Vodka
• 24 ounces lemon–lime soda
• 16 ounces pineapple juice
• 8 ounces ginger ale
• Cherry
The Santa Clause: Snowglobe
As our movie marathon draws to a close, we recommend shaking up a Snowglobe as the perfect nightcap while watching this ‘90s classic. This one is complete with almond milk for a lactose–intolerant Santa Claus.
• 2 ounces Plymouth Gin
• ½ ounce almond milk
• ½ ounce lime juice
• ½ ounce peppermint syrup
• 1 ounce soda water
• Candy cane
First published 12/9/22, updated by an Orlando Mom Editor 12/1/25
