Cozy, festive whiskey cocktails with fresh ingredients and less sugar, from Christmas brunch to the last pour by the fire
Christmas Day has its own rhythm. Coffee and presents in the morning, a big meal in the afternoon and a quiet pour once the wrapping paper is cleaned up. There’s a cocktail for every part of it.
These Christmas whiskey cocktails keep the holiday flavors we love, like cranberry, orange, ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg, but skip the heavy syrups and premade mixers. Each one is sweetened with a small amount of pure maple syrup and made with Belfour Rye Whiskey or Small Batch Straight Bourbon.
1. Christmas Morning Blood Orange Bourbon Spritz
A light, bright brunch cocktail for opening presents. It uses a little less whiskey than the others, so it’s easy to sip with breakfast.
Ingredients
- 1 oz Belfour Small Batch Straight Bourbon
- 1 oz fresh blood orange juice (or regular orange juice)
- ¼ oz fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp pure maple syrup
- 3 oz sparkling water
- Orange wheel and rosemary sprig
- Ice
Directions
- Add bourbon, blood orange juice, lemon juice and maple syrup to a shaker with ice.
- Shake until chilled.
- Strain into a wine glass over fresh ice.
- Top with sparkling water.
- Garnish with an orange wheel and rosemary sprig.
Why We Love It: Blood oranges are in season in winter and bring a gorgeous color and natural sweetness. It’s a lighter alternative to a mimosa.
2. Maple Cranberry Bourbon Smash
Fresh cranberries, orange and rosemary make this smash taste like Christmas in a glass.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Belfour Small Batch Straight Bourbon
- 8 to 10 fresh cranberries
- 2 orange slices
- ¼ oz pure maple syrup
- ½ oz fresh lemon juice
- Rosemary sprig
- Crushed ice
Directions
- Muddle the cranberries, orange slices and maple syrup in a shaker.
- Add bourbon, lemon juice and ice.
- Shake until chilled.
- Strain into a rocks glass over crushed ice.
- Garnish with a few cranberries and a rosemary sprig.
Why We Love It: Fresh cranberries are tart on their own, so muddling them with orange and a touch of maple gives you a balanced, festive drink without sugary cranberry cocktail juice. Love cranberry? Try our Cranberry Whiskey Sour too.
3. Gingerbread Rye Old Fashioned
All the warm spice of a gingerbread cookie in a classic Old Fashioned. The secret is a quick spiced maple syrup.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Belfour Rye Whiskey
- ¼ oz gingerbread maple syrup (recipe below)
- 2 dashes aromatic bitters
- Orange peel
- Cinnamon stick
- Large ice cube
Directions
- Add rye, gingerbread maple syrup and bitters to a mixing glass with ice.
- Stir until well chilled.
- Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube.
- Express an orange peel over the glass.
- Garnish with the orange peel and a cinnamon stick.
Gingerbread maple syrup: Gently warm ½ cup pure maple syrup with 1 cinnamon stick, 3 thin slices of fresh ginger, 2 whole cloves and a pinch of nutmeg for 5 minutes. Let it cool, then strain. It keeps in the fridge for about two weeks.
Why We Love It: Belfour Rye Whiskey already brings caramel, brown sugar and a hint of peppermint on the finish, so a little spiced maple is all it needs. Want to take it further? Learn how to smoke an Old Fashioned.
4. Lighter Bourbon Milk Punch
All the creamy, nutmeg-dusted comfort of eggnog, made lighter. This one skips the heavy cream, the raw eggs and most of the sugar.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Belfour Small Batch Straight Bourbon
- 3 oz milk of your choice (2%, oat or unsweetened almond)
- ¼ oz pure maple syrup
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- Freshly grated nutmeg
- Ice
Directions
- Add bourbon, milk, maple syrup and vanilla to a shaker with ice.
- Shake hard until frothy and chilled.
- Strain into a chilled rocks glass or coupe.
- Top with freshly grated nutmeg.
Why We Love It: The Small Batch Bourbon’s maple, caramel and toasted marshmallow notes make it taste rich, even with lighter ingredients. Still want the real thing? Here’s our classic Egg Nog Cocktail.
5. Maple Pear Rye Hot Toddy
The perfect way to end Christmas Day. Warm, soothing and great by the fire.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Belfour Rye Whiskey
- 4 oz hot water
- ¼ oz pure maple syrup
- ½ oz fresh lemon juice
- Cinnamon stick
- Thin pear slices
Directions
- Add maple syrup and lemon juice to a heat-safe mug.
- Pour in hot water and stir.
- Add the rye and stir again.
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick and pear slices.
Why We Love It: Fresh pear and cinnamon add warmth and aroma, and maple syrup replaces the usual honey and sugar. For something more indulgent, there’s always our Spiked Peppermint Hot Chocolate.
How to Make Christmas Cocktails a Little Healthier
1. Use pure maple syrup. Pure maple syrup adds a cozy, seasonal sweetness, and you only need a little. Look for 100% pure maple syrup, not pancake syrup.
2. Make your own flavored syrups. Infusing maple syrup with rosemary, ginger or cinnamon gives you big holiday flavor without store-bought syrups.
3. Choose fresh fruit. Fresh cranberries, oranges, pears and lemons add natural flavor and sweetness.
4. Lighten up the creamy drinks. Use milk or an unsweetened non-dairy milk instead of heavy cream.
5. Keep pours sensible. A 1.5 oz pour is plenty, and the brunch spritz uses just 1 oz.
Your Christmas Day Cocktail Plan
- Christmas morning: Blood Orange Bourbon Spritz
- Before dinner: Maple Cranberry Bourbon Smash
- With dessert: Gingerbread Rye Old Fashioned or Lighter Bourbon Milk Punch
- By the fire: Maple Pear Rye Hot Toddy
Make the gingerbread maple syrup a day or two ahead, and keep cranberries, citrus and rosemary on hand. That way, every drink takes just a minute or two.
Which Belfour Whiskey Should You Use?
- Belfour Rye Whiskey: Sea salted caramel, dark chocolate and a peppermint finish make it a natural fit for an Old Fashioned and a hot toddy.
- Belfour Small Batch Straight Bourbon: Brown sugar, maple and toasted marshmallow pair beautifully with cranberry, orange and creamy cocktails.
Still shopping? A bottle and a few of these recipes make a great gift. See our Belfour Holiday Gift Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good Christmas cocktail with whiskey?
The Gingerbread Rye Old Fashioned and the Maple Cranberry Bourbon Smash are two of our favorites. Both use classic holiday flavors and just a little maple syrup.
Can I make a lighter eggnog with bourbon?
Yes. Our Lighter Bourbon Milk Punch uses milk, a touch of maple syrup, vanilla and nutmeg for the same cozy flavor without heavy cream or raw eggs.
Is maple syrup better than simple syrup in cocktails?
Maple syrup is sweeter than simple syrup and has its own warm flavor, so you can use less of it. It also pairs naturally with bourbon and rye.
What’s a good brunch cocktail for Christmas morning?
Try the Blood Orange Bourbon Spritz. It’s light, bright and uses just 1 oz of bourbon.
More Holiday Cocktails from Belfour Spirits
- Healthier New Year’s Eve Whiskey Cocktails
- 5 Healthier Thanksgiving Cocktails
- 7 Fall Whiskey Cocktails
- Shop Belfour Spirits
Merry Christmas from the Belfour family!
Must be 21+ to enjoy. Please drink responsibly. Learn more at Responsibility.org.