Our Traditional Christmas Cocktail Routine

This is a personal dive into my personal Christmas Day routine, that dates back from when I was a small boy and from when i can remember. Nowadays I usually bring out a special cocktail that I've discovered that year and want to show my family and friends, but the below is still threaded throughout the day. - Nick Wilkins. Make Me a Cocktail Creator

Christmas in our house is not complete without an alcoholic beverage or two. There are so many drinks that we associate with the festive time, and we don’t usually drink them at any other time of the year. Here are some of our household favourites.

Mulled Wine

This drink usually makes an appearance around Halloween and stays a staple in our home until the New Year. The smell of it seems to sum up the spirit of Christmas. If you don’t want to try one of the recipes in the book to make at home you can buy it on the high streets in paper cups while you do your Christmas shopping. It is a true winter warmer, introduced to Europe by the Romans as they travelled through, conquering countries as they did so.

Bailey’s

We will be greeted with a glass of this when we first arrive at my mother in law’s house. She always adds a dash of crème de menthe and crème de cacao to mine to turn it into a delicious After Eight.

Mimosa

This may not be a drink that everyone associates with Christmas, but we certainly do which is why we had to include this classic cocktail in the book. Champagne and orange juice is the perfect combination for those who are designated drivers on the day. A cheeky little bit of bubbles at dinner is essential, and not too heavy with the banquet of food that will inevitably mean loosening my belt as we eat! Of course, there is little doubt that the Mimosa is simply a variation of the much-loved Buck’s Fizz cocktail. The drink was named after the Buck’s Club in London, and was invented as an excuse to start drinking early.

EggNog

This frothy drink tastes just like dessert, how Christmas should taste in my opinion. Sweet, creamy, and satisfying. I prefer a shot of brandy in mine (check out the Brandy Eggnog recipe), but my husband would rather have whisky. Eggnog was originally a British creation enjoyed by the aristocracy, but it is much more of an American tradition now. The Eggnog riot in 1826 happened when whiskey was smuggled into a US Military academy for a Christmas Day party. It cemented its place as a yuletide favourite.

Port

When the cheese board comes out later in the evening, it is always accompanied by a bottle of Port. Then, when the day is coming to an end, we always finish with a good coffee like the Christmas Coffee, the Mocha Eggnog Latte or the simple, good old fashioned Irish Coffee. The Irish Coffee drink was invented in County Limerick by a barman who worked at a pub near the airport. Some Americans disembarked their flight, tired, cold and miserable, so he added whiskey to their coffee to perk them up. It became popular at Shannon Airport and the recipe soon made its way overseas. It certainly warms and wakes us up ready for our long walk home.

We've got a whole Christmas Cocktail Timeline dedicated to suggesting cocktails to pair with all the occasions and events throughout Christmas Day. You can check it out here.