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Get ready to toast the holiday season with a twist! This Naughty but Nice Christmas Cocktail is a delightful blend of seasonal flavors. The choice of alcohol is completely customizable. Whether you’re a whiskey enthusiast or a vodka lover, this Christmas cocktail caters to all. Simple to mix and stunning to present, this cocktail is your go-to for a memorable holiday gathering. It’s the season’s must-try for every festive occasion!

Close up of the naughty but nice christmas cocktail

It’s time to shake up another new holiday cocktail recipe. Today we’re making this Naughty but Nice Christmas Cocktail. It’s a delicious and festive mix of flavors almost anyone will love.

Yes, my friends, I’m back with another Christmas cocktail recipe. You know how much I love trying out and mixing up new cocktails, especially for the holiday season. In fact, I have an entire blog post dedicated to my favorite Christmas cocktails. There are over 20 recipes, and they cover everything from punches to mulled wine to martinis and so much more.

I’m thrilled to be adding this Naughty but Nice Christmas Cocktail to that list today. I wanted to create a holiday cocktail recipe that would work with a few different types of alcohol. I know that everyone has different preferences, so it’s nice to have a drink recipe that suits as many people as possible.

As you might know, I’ve been a big fan of whiskey and bourbon lately, so that’s what I used. I also tested this drink recipe with vodka, and it was equally as delicious. In fact, with the vodka, it kind of reminded me of a Moscow mule, but it was more seasonal and festive!

No matter how you make this Christmas cocktail, it ends up being a delicious combination of flavors that taste and look perfectly seasonal. You’ll be feeling naughty but nice. It’s the perfect combo!

TABLE OF CONTENTS hide

1 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

2 Ingredients:

3 How to Make

4 Frequently Asked Questions

5 Naughty but Nice Christmas Cocktail

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Festive Flavors Galore: The combination of orange juice, ginger syrup, and cranberry juice brings a delightful, festive twist to your holiday gatherings.
Easy to Make: With just a few simple steps, this cocktail comes together in no time. It’s perfect for both quick solo enjoyment and entertaining guests.
Seasonal Aesthetic: Garnished with orange slices and fresh cranberries, this drink doesn’t just taste like the holidays, it looks the part too! Don’t forget the DIY tree drink stirrers.
Perfect for Parties: The recipe is easy to scale up, making it ideal for your festive gatherings or cozy winter nights in.

Let’s go over what you’ll need to try this recipe.

Close up of a cocktail with Christmas tree drink stirrers

Ingredients:

Rye Whiskey, Bourbon, or Vodka: I love this Christmas cocktail since it works with a few different staples. If entertaining, you can keep all three on hand, and the guest can choose which one to enjoy in their cocktail.
Orange Juice: Orange Juice is well known for being paired with vodka, but it also works well with bourbon and rye whiskey. It adds some fruity sweetness.
Ginger Syrup: Some spicy sweetness gives this cocktail recipe some kick, which makes it a popular choice for those who love Moscow mules. If you’re looking for ginger syrup, you can typically find it at the liquor store. However, I purchased mine on Amazon. Either of these options is great: Pratt Standard or Liber & Co.
Cranberry Juice: Cranberry juice works so well for Christmas drinks, providing some festive and tart flavor.
Club Soda: There’s a lot of flavor coming in already, so a club soda works well to add some fizz and a small touch of flavor.
Ice: This cocktail is made in a cocktail shaker, and the ice will instantly cool down the ingredients to the perfect temperature.
Orange Slices and Fresh Cranberries: Top off the cocktail with an easy and colorful garnish. Get even fancy with these sugared cranberries!

For the glassware, I serve mine in these French wine glasses. However, you can also serve them in a stemless wine glass or other nice glassware you have on hand.

How to Make

It’s not hard to whip up this Christmas cocktail once you have the ingredients. For more detailed instructions and measurements, I’ve left those down in the recipe card at the end of this post.

Add your liquor of choice, orange juice, ginger syrup, and cranberry juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Shake well to combine.

Divide evenly between two glasses and add extra ice if needed. Top with club soda. Garnish with an orange wedge and fresh cranberries.

It’s that easy! Share, sip, and enjoy this festive Christmas cocktail.

cranberry and orange cocktail at christmas

DIY Cocktail Stirrers

I also used these fun DIY Bottle Brush Tree Cocktail Stirrers. Aren’t they fun? Who doesn’t love a handmade holiday craft? They make the cocktail a little more festive, and all you have to do is pop one in before serving. I have a full DIY tutorial here on IBC so that you can make some for your own holiday entertaining endeavors.

Not only are these stir sticks adorable in a cocktail, but you can tuck them into a hot chocolate or add some good cheer to your morning coffee or tea.

DIY christmas tree cocktail stirrers next to cocktails

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I make my cocktail non-alcoholic?

Want a non-alcoholic version of this Christmas cocktail? Simply omit the alcohol. The orange juice, ginger syrup, cranberry juice, and club soda will create a deliciously Christmasy mocktail.

Also, be sure to check out my non-alcoholic Christmas sangria. It’s one of my favorites!

Can this cocktail be made in advance?

You can mix the orange juice, ginger syrup, and cranberry juice ahead of time. Just add the alcohol, club soda, and ice right before serving to keep it fresh and fizzy.

Is there a substitute for cranberry juice?

Yes, pomegranate juice makes a great alternative. It offers a similar tartness and color, keeping the festive vibe intact.

Can this recipe be scaled for a larger crowd?

Definitely! Just multiply the ingredients by the number of guests. It’s a great recipe for batch-making in a large pitcher or punch bowl.

The flavor of this drink is quite fruity, but it retains a lot of that Christmas cheer thanks to tart cranberry juice and spicy ginger syrup.

All of the ingredients are super easy to source, and you can quickly serve these while entertaining a crowd. It’s one of those easy crowd-pleasers!

This is one of the simplest and easiest-to-please Christmas cocktail recipes out there. It doesn’t contain anything you couldn’t already find at your local liquor or grocery store! I hope you enjoyed this Naughty but Nice Christmas Cocktail and will give it a try this holiday season. Enjoy!

2 cocktails with gold shaker in the backgroud

More Christmas Cocktails You’ll Enjoy

I hope you enjoy this Christmas cocktail recipe. If you do, please leave a comment and a 5-star rating below.

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