Life
18 Cocktails to Help You Survive Being Home for the Holidays
Going home for the holidays is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it's wonderful to spend time with your family, but at the same time, after a few days the walls can start to feel like they're beginning to close in on you — which is where strong holiday cocktails come into play.
You love your family, but that doesn't mean that being in close quarters doesn't occasionally trigger your fight or flight response. To help you combat Home for the Holidays Syndrome, we've found 18 of the most deliciously festive, boozy cocktails out there, from a cranberry bourbon Negroni to an aged rum Old Fashioned, and even a candy cane martini to loosen you up and get you back in the spirit of things. So get the shaker out, and cheers to a happier home for the holidays.
Image: How Sweet It Is
Cranberry Orange Bourbon Cocktail with Brandied Cherries
Cranberry, orange, and bourbon blend together seamlessly in The Little Epicurean brandied, cherry-topped holiday cocktail.
Image: The Little Epicurean
Aged Rum Old Fashioned
Upgrade your favorite stiff drink by opting for a nice aged rum like The Effortless Chic does.
Image: The Efforless Chic
There Will Be Blood (Oranges)
There will be blood, or at least a cocktail of the same name courtesy The Crepes of Wrath.
Image: The Crepes of Wrath
Tangerine Margarita
Swap out tangerine for seasonal mandarin orange in Confections of a Foodie Bride’s margarita recipe to create the perfect holiday cocktail.
Image: Confections of a Foodie Bride
Basque Cider and Rye Cocktail
You don’t have to choose between cider or rye ever again with A Better Happier St. Sebastian’s tasty hybrid cocktail.
Image: A Better Happier St. Sebastian
Buccaneer's Booty Trap
Go all out and treat yourself for keeping it together by trying your hand at this delicious take on a hot buttered Appleton Estate rum by Willy Shine.
Image: Appleton Estate
The Ward Eight
The Kitchn’s got your back with the straightforward, booze-laden Ward Eight.
Image: The Kitchn
Pomegranate Margaritas
Get yourself back in the holiday spirit with How Sweet It Is’ red and green pomegranate margarita.
Image: How Sweet It Is
Rob Roy Cocktail
For those in serious need of a booze fix to get them through, The Kitchn’s classic Rob Roy cocktail is just the thing.
Image: The Kitchn
Apple Pie Moonshine
This apple pie-flavored moonshine sip by The Little Epicurean is strong enough to help get you through any family gathering out there.
Image: The Little Epicurean
Cranberry Ginger Cocktail
Jelly Toast mixes cranberry and ginger in this wonderfully boozy holiday creation.
Image: Jelly Toast
Spiced Manhattan
A Spicy Perspective takes on the spirit of the season by dressing up the original for the holidays. We couldn’t be happier.
Image: Spicy Perspective
Pear-Ginger Rum Runner
Pass the Sushi shows us just how good rum and pear really get along.
Image: Pass the Sushi
Spiced Bourbon Coffee
Need a little bit of coffee with your booze? No problem — Offbeat + Inspired has you covered with a citrus-laced bourbon spiced coffee.
Image: Offbeat + Inspired
Mulled Wine
Kitchen Confidante’s deliciously spiced mulled wine is the perfect sip to warm all your worries away.
Image: Kitchen Confidante
Candy Cane Martini
If getting into the Christmas spirit is hard in your house, look no further than Jelly Toast’s wonderfully seasonal candy cane martini for a little help.
Image: Jelly Toast
Honey Sage Gin Fizz
How Sweet It Is gives a festive herbaceous hit to the gin fizz by adding honey and sage. We approve.
Image: How Sweet It Is
Cranberry Bourbon Negroni
If you thought the classic Negroni couldn’t get any better, think again. Climbing Grier Mountain improves perfection with a hit of bourbon and cranberry.
Image: Climbing Grier Mountain
