12 Holiday Cocktails for Entertaining This Holiday Season (With Easy Recipes)
The holidays are all about gathering, celebrating, and sharing great drinks with the people you love. Whether you’re hosting a cozy night in or planning a big family get-together, having a few go-to cocktails can make your holiday entertaining feel effortless.
To help you elevate your celebrations, we’ve rounded up 12 easy holiday cocktail recipes you can make at home – from festive classics to fun twists using our Ontario-made craft spirits. Each recipe is simple, crowd-pleasing, and designed to bring a little extra magic to your holiday season.
Let’s get mixing.
1. Maple Moon Nog
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz. Reunion Maple Moonshine
- Eggnog
- 3 Dashes Top Shelf Chocolate Bitters
- Nutmeg (Garnish)
- Cinnamon (Garnish)
Glassware:
- Mug
Garnish:
- Grated Nutmeg
- Grated Cinnamon
Directions:
Add Reunion Maple Moonshine and Top Shelf Chocolate Bitters to your mug. Top with eggnog and stir. Garnish with grated nutmeg and cinnamon.
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2. Frosted Cranberry
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. Top Shelf Vodka
- 3/4 oz. Top Shelf Mint Liqueur
- 4 oz. White Cranberry Juice
- 4 Cranberries (Garnish)
- 1 oz. Simple Syrup (Garnish)
- 2 tbsp. Granulated Sugar (Garnish)
- Fresh Mint (Garnish)
Glassware:
- Highball
Garnish:
- Grated Nutmeg
- Grated Cinnamon
Directions:
Add Reunion Maple Moonshine and Top Shelf Chocolate Bitters to your mug. Top with eggnog and stir. Garnish with grated nutmeg and cinnamon.
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3. Peppermint Cookies & Milk
Ingredients:
- 1 1/4 oz. Cup Vanilla Ice Cream
- 3 Oreos
- 1 oz. Top Shelf Mint Liquor
Glassware:
- Mason Jar
Garnish:
- Oreo Pieces
- Vanilla Ice Cream
Directions:
Using the bottom of a cocktail shaker, coarsely crush Oreos. In a cocktail shaker, add 1 cup Vanilla Ice Cream and Top Shelf Mint Liqueur and blend with an immersion blender until smooth. Fold in two thirds of crushed Oreos to shaker and pour contents of shaker into mason jar. Garnish with 1⁄4 cup vanilla ice cream and remaining crushed Oreos.
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4. Winter Wallbanger
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Fresh Orange Juice
- 1 oz. Top Shelf Vodka
- 1/2 oz. Galliano Liqueur
- 5 Fresh Sage Leaves
Glassware:
- Coupe
Garnish:
- Sage Leaf
Directions:
In a cocktail shaker, add Ice, Fresh Orange Juice, Top Shelf Vodka, Galliano Liqueur and 4Sage Leaves. Shake for 12 seconds and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a fresh sage leaf.
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5. Maple Boulevardier
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. Reunion Maple Moonshine
- 1 oz. Campari
- 1 oz. Sweet Vermouth
- 4 Dashes Top Shelf Allspice Bitters
- Big Ice Cube
- Orange Ribbon (Garnish)
- Torch, lighter, or matches
Glassware:
- Double Rocks Glass
Garnish:
- Flamed Orange Ribbon
Directions:
In a mixing glass, add all ingredients and regular ice cubes. Stir for ten seconds then strain into a double rocks glass over a big ice cube. Garnish with a flamed orange ribbon.
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6. Peppermint White Russian
Ingredients:
- 1/2 oz. Top Shelf Mint Liquor
- 1 oz. Top Shelf Vodka
- 1 oz. Top Shelf Coffee Liquor
- 2 oz. Table Cream
- 3-5 Dashes Top Shelf Chocolate Bitters
- Dark Chocolate
Glassware:
- Double Rocks Glass
Garnish:
- Grated Dark Chocolate
Directions:
In a double rocks glass pour all ingredients over ice and gently stir. Grate dark chocolate on top as a garnish.
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7. Top Shelf Toddy
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. Top Shelf Gin
- 1/2 oz. Lemon Juice
- 1/2 oz. Honey
- Pinch of Nutmeg
- Boiling Water
- Orange Ribbon (Garnish)
- Cloves (Garnish)
Glassware:
- Rocks Glass
Garnish:
- Orange Ribbon Studded with Cloves
Directions:
In a rocks glass, add all ingredients and top with boiling water. Stir gently and garnish with an orange ribbon studded with cloves.
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8. Tayside Thyme
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. Top Shelf Vodka
- 5 Cranberries
- 3/4 oz. Lemon Juice
- 1/2 oz. Domaine de Canton
- Topped with Prosecco
Glassware:
- Champagne Glass
Garnish:
- Two Cranberries
- Rosemary Sprig
Directions:
In a cocktail shaker add all the ingredients excluding the Prosecco. Add three cranberries to the shaker and lightly muddle. Shake contents of shaker with ice then strain into a champagne glass filled with ice. Top with Prosecco and garnish with two cranberries and a sprig of rosemary.
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9. Indigo Moon
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz. Reunion Wild Blueberry Moonshine
- 4 Dashes of Top Shelf Lavender Bitters
- 4 oz. Lemonade
- Sprig of Fresh Lavender (Garnish)
- Blueberries (Garnish)
Glassware:
- Highball
Garnish:
- Sprig of Lavender
- Blueberries
Directions:
In a highball glass, add lemonade and Top Shelf Lavender Bitters. Fill the highball glass with ice. Using the back of a spoon, slowly pour Reunion Wild Blueberry Moonshine over the cocktail to create a float. Garnish with a sprig of fresh lavender and blueberries. Serve with a straw or stir stick.
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10. Tay Cocomint
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. Top Shelf Mint Liquor
- 1 tbsp. of Hot Chocolate Mix
- 4 oz. Boiling Water
- 1/2 oz. of Table Cream
- Candy Cane (Garnish)
- Whipped Cream (Garnish)
Glassware:
- Mug
Garnish:
- Whipped Cream
- Crushed Candy Cane
Directions:
Pour 1 oz. Top Shelf Mint Liquor and 1 tablespoon of powdered hot chocolate mix in a warm mug. Add 4 oz. of boiling water and 1/2 oz. of table cream and stir. Top with whipped cream and crushed candy cane to garnish.
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11. Cinnamon Maple Sour
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. Reunion Maple Moonshine
- 1 oz. Lanark Highlands Rideau Whisky
- 3/4 oz. Lemon Juice
- 1 Egg White
- 1 oz. Maple Cinnamon Syrup
- Culinary Torch
Glassware:
- Coupe
Garnish:
- Cinnamon Sugar Brulé
Directions:
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Dry shake without ice for eight seconds, then add ice to the shaker. Shake for ten seconds. Double strain contents of the shaker into a coupe glass. Garnish with a dusting of cinnamon sugar and lightly singe with a torch to create a cinnamon sugar brulé.
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12. Mulled Wine
Ingredients:
- 6 oz. Reunion 100 Proof Moonshine
- 750 ml Bottle of Red Wine
- 20 Dashes of Top Shelf Allspice Bitters
- 1 Full Orange Worth of Zest
- 1 tsp Clove
- 2 Sticks of Cinnamon
Glassware:
- Punch Bowl
Garnish:
- Grated Nutmeg
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and heat to a simmer over medium-high heat*. Strain and serve warm with your desired garnish.
*Be careful not to boil the mulled wine.
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Conclusion
We hope these cocktails bring a little extra joy to your holiday season—whether you’re hosting a cozy night in, shaking up drinks for friends, or simply treating yourself to something festive. If you’re looking for more easy holiday cocktail ideas or ways to elevate your entertaining, be sure to explore our full lineup of Ontario craft spirits. From whisky and gin to our flavour-packed Reunion Moonshine collection, our spirits make it effortless to create delicious drinks at home, discover new favourites, and celebrate the season in style. Cheers to good company, good cocktails, and a memorable holiday ahead.
