Christmas Cocktail Recipes For The Jolly Season Ahead
- Featured Food & Beverage
Yashita Damani- 34 minutes read
Reimagined festive cocktails from the most innovative bars in India: a curated festive edit featuring India’s most inventive bars and spirit houses—where cocktails are crafted with memory, mood, and meaning.
There’s a kind of alchemy in the art of mixology—where patience meets play, and tradition meets taste. This season, the country’s most inventive bars and spirit houses are reimagining the festive toast with creations that shimmer with intention. And every great celebration deserves a ‘signature’ pour—something that captures its mood, memory, and magic.
This festive edit brings together creative spirits: fragrant teas stirred with fine wine, saffron steeped in single malt, and elderflower dancing with bubbles. Each cocktail here is more than a drink—it’s a conversation between craft and celebration, designed to make every toast a moment to remember.
Whistler Whisky Old Fashioned
A refined take on the Old Fashioned, highlighting Whistler Whisky’s depth with just the right touch of sweetness and spice.
Ingredients:
- 60ml Whistler Barrel Aged Blended Malt Whisky
- 10ml Simple Syrup
- 2-3 dashes Angostura Bitters
- Orange Peel
- Large Ice Cubes
Method: Add simple syrup and Angostura bitters to an Old-Fashioned glass. Add a large ice cube and pour in Whistler Barrel Aged Blended Malt Whisky. Stir gently to combine and chill. Express the oils from an orange peel over the drink and drop it in as garnish.
Cashmir Vodka Pina Colada
A silky, coconut-forward Piña Colada elevated by the clean, refined character of Cashmir Vodka.
Crafted from the rare heritage grain Sona Moti and pristine Himalayan glacial water
Ingredients:
- 50ml – Cashmir Vodka
- 50ml – Coconut cream
- 50ml – Pineapple juice
- 30ml – Sugar syrup
Method: Take all the ingredients, mix it well and enjoy
MacRoys Scots Guard
A strong, flavour-packed serve where MacRoys meets citrus and spice for an easy crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
- Ice Cubes & Broken Ice
- 60 ml MacRoys BB1
- 15 ml Rosso Vermouth
- 15 ml Angostura Bitters
- 1 Maraschino Cherry
Method: Take a glassful of broken ice into a shaker. Pour in MacRoys BB1 Blended Scotch, add vermouth and bitters. Shake briefly and pour unstrained into a Manhattan or rocks glass. Garnish with maraschino cherry.
Espresso Martini :
Credit: Glenfiddich and The Balvenie
Ingredients:
Monkey Shoulder 60ml
Espresso 30ml
Simple Syrup
Ice
Coffee Beans
Method:
Add 60ml Monkey Shoulder, 30ml espresso & simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice
Shake until the drink gets foamy
Strain into a martini glass
Garnish with 3 coffee beans
AUNTIE’S HOOCH
ITC GRAND CENTRAL MUMBAI
Credit: Hrutik Katte
A whimsical ode to homegrown ingenuity, Auntie’s Hooch brings together unexpected ingredients in perfect symphony. The floral warmth of jasmine tea and the earthy sweetness of carrot juice meet the crisp notes of white wine for a cocktail that’s both comforting and complex. Beetroot bitters and ginger oleo lend it an aromatic depth, while a dehydrated grapefruit garnish adds the final flourish.
Ingredients:
White Wine 80ml
Jasmine Tea 40ml
Grapefruit Juice 40ml
Carrot Juice 30ml
Ginger Oleo 30ml
Beetroot Bitters 2 dashes
Method:
Prepare the garnish. Add all ingredients into a Boston glass, fill with cubed ice, and shake vigorously for 10 seconds. Strain into the service glass, adjust taste if needed, and serve garnished with dehydrated grapefruit and flowers.
Base: White Wine
Price: ₹850 + taxes
EAST COAST ROAD
ITC GRAND CENTRAL MUMBAI
Credit: Hrutik Katte
A toast to the Southern coast, this Zero-Waste Cocktail redefines mindful luxury. Tequila infused with curry leaves meets pineapple cordial crafted from whole pineapples—skin, flesh, and all. Dehydrated pineapple and curry leaves garnish this tropical masterpiece that’s as sustainable as it is sophisticated.
Ingredients:
Reposado Tequila 45ml (infused with curry leaves)
Pineapple Cordial 30ml
Homemade Orange Bitter 2 dashes
Garnish: Dehydrated pineapple flesh and curry leaves
Cost: ₹1,700++ for two
SKYVORY & STARBURST
CHANDON
Raise your glass to effervescence with Chandon’s festive duo. Skyvory charms with its zesty grapefruit, orange, and elderflower notes — an ode to brunches under the sun. Starburst, on the other hand, dazzles with Chandon Rosé, cranberry, and a whisper of edible gold, perfect for moonlit soirées.
Skyvory
Chandon Brut – 120ml
Grapefruit Juice – 10 ml
Orange Juice – 50 ml
Elderflower Syrup – 10 ml
Starburst
Chandon Rosé – 120 ml
Cranberry Juice – 50 ml
Triple Sec Syrup -15 ml
Lime Juice – 5ml
Edible Gold Dust – a pinch
Method:
Stir all ingredients (except Chandon) over ice, strain into a chilled wine glass, top with Chandon Sparkling Wine, and garnish.
TIMUR BERRY TEQUILA NEGRONI
MONIN
A bold reinterpretation of the classic Negroni, this cocktail swaps gin for white tequila and stars PARAGON by MONIN’s Timur Berry—a rare Nepalese spice known for its peppery-citrus bite. The result? A drink that’s daring, layered, and irresistibly adventurous.
Ingredients:
PARAGON Timur Berry – 10 ml
Campari – 20 ml
White Tequila – 20 ml
Sweet Vermouth – 20ml
Saline Solution – 2 drops
Method:
Stir all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Strain into a chilled rocks glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with an orange peel or dehydrated orange slice.
BERRY WINE SANGRIA
MONIN
Light, fruit-forward, and endlessly refreshing, this Berry Wine Sangria is summer bottled in a glass. MONIN’s Red Berries and Sangria Mix blend seamlessly with vodka, apple juice, and white wine, creating a vibrant pour ideal for afternoon garden parties.
Ingredients:
MONIN Red Berries Fruit Mix – 15 ml
MONIN Sangria Mix – 10 ml
Vodka – 30 ml
Apple Juice – 30 ml
White Wine – 120 ml
Soda – 60 ml
Fresh Fruits & Cinnamon Stick
Method:
Add fresh fruits to a glass, pour all ingredients, stir well, add ice and cinnamon, top with soda, and serve chilled.
SPICED JAMUN MARTINI, MONIN
Sweet nostalgia meets modern mixology in this striking violet-hued martini. MONIN’s Spiced Jamun Syrup, paired with crisp gin and lime, brings a tangy twist to the festive season—balancing Indian roots with cosmopolitan flair.
Ingredients:
London Dry Gin – 60 ml
MONIN Spiced Jamun Syrup – 30 ml
Lime Juice – 15ml
Fresh Mint
Method:
Shake all ingredients with ice for 15–20 seconds, strain into a chilled martini glass, and garnish with mint leaves.
GUAVA LIME RUM,
CAMIKARA
A tropical delight with Indian warmth, the Guava Lime Rum is an ode to lazy afternoons and golden hour conversations. Fresh lime, sugar, and guava nectar meet Camikara’s award-winning 3YO rum in this refreshingly tart yet smooth concoction.
Ingredients:
Camikara 3YO Rum – 45ml
Lime – ½ sliced
Sugar – 1 tbsp
Guava Nectar – 120ml
Ice
Method:
Muddle lime and sugar, add rum and guava nectar, shake for 15 seconds, and serve over ice with lime garnish.
BALLANTINE’S WHISKY FLIP
Credit: Ballantine’s
Rich, velvety and indulgent, the Ballantine’s Whisky Flip is dessert in a glass. Blending whisky, amaretto and cream, this cocktail is finished with a dusting of nutmeg — a true winter warmer for the discerning palate.
Ingredients:
Ballantine’s 7 American Barrel Whisky – 35 ml
Amaretto Liqueur –15 ml
Double Cream – 20 ml
1 Whole Egg
Nutmeg
Method:
Shake all ingredients vigorously for 30 seconds with ice, strain into a chilled glass, and dust with nutmeg.
KHUKRI OLD FASHIONED
Credit: Khukri
A Himalayan twist on the timeless classic, Khukri Old Fashioned replaces whisky with the rich, dark depth of Khukri XXX Rum. The result is smooth, smoky, and unapologetically bold.
Ingredients:
Khukri XXX Rum – 45ml
Sugar Cube – 1
Angostura Bitters – 2 dashes
Water – 10ml
Orange Zest
Method:
Muddle sugar, bitters, and water; add rum and ice, stir well, and garnish with orange zest.
LOTUS FLOWER MARTINI
ABSOLUT
Credit: Absolut
An ethereal blend of color and aroma, this Lotus Flower Martini layers lychee liqueur, violet liqueur, and blue curaçao for a strikingly floral finish. A mint leaf and edible flower complete this visual and sensory masterpiece.
Ingredients:
Absolut Vodka – 30 ml
Lychee Liqueur – 15 ml
Blue Curaçao – 10 ml
Violet Liqueur – 10 ml
Ice
Mint & Edible Flower
Method:
Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a martini glass, and garnish with a mint leaf and edible flower.
KASHMIRI SAFFRON SOUR
LONGITUDE 77
A celebration of Indian terroir and artistry, the Kashmiri Saffron Sour blends single malt whisky with saffron syrup and a touch of chili oil—bridging craft and culture in one unforgettable sip.
Ingredients:
Longitude 77 Indian Single Malt Whisky – 60 ml
Kashmiri Saffron Syrup – 30 ml
Lime Juice – 20 ml
Egg White/Magic Velvet – 3 drops
Grapes
Lemon
Garnish:
Kashmiri Chili Oil and Saffron Strands
Method:
Dry shake all ingredients, add ice and shake again. Fine strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass and garnish using a dropper.
Summertime Spritz
Credit : Beefeater
A floral, bubbly refresher that brings together the crisp botanicals of Beefeater London Dry Gin with the delicate sweetness of elderflower cordial, topped with sparkling wine. A perfect ode to warm, lazy afternoons.
Ingredients
- 60 ml Beefeater London Dry Gin
- 15 ml Elderflower cordial
- Top up with sparkling wine or prosecco
- Garnish: Strawberries and mint sprig
- Glassware: Gin Goblet
Method:
Build all ingredients directly in a gin goblet over ice and gently stir. Garnish with strawberries and a mint sprig.
The Last Sip
If the festive season had a flavour, it would probably come with a sugared rim and a hint of rebellion. There’s decking the halls — (and then there’s spiking them).
Whether it’s a zero-waste cocktail inspired by the southern coast or a golden-hued martini kissed with saffron, every pour reminds us that true luxury lies not just in how we drink, but in what we choose to celebrate. Calories shouldn’t count, and neither should self-control once in a while, especially when your drink looks this good. ‘Tis the season to swap resolutions for refills!
You may also read: Quiet Luxury with The House of Suntory
