The holidays are back again, and you know what that means. Your friends and family want to be entertained! 

Cocktail crafting is a great way to bring people together and try new things. Need a little festive drink inspiration? We gathered a few recipes for holiday cocktails that will keep your besties, in-laws and college-age cousin feeling merry and bright all season long.

Santa Teresa 1796 Hot Buttered Rum

This recipe from Santa Teresa 1976 brings special holiday spice to your warming rum. If you don’t have pumpkin butter or don’t love the taste of pumpkin, you can use regular unsalted butter to get the same creamy effect.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Santa Teresa 1796 rum
• 1 teaspoon of pumpkin butter (or unsalted butter)
• ½ oz honey
• 1 dash of nutmeg
• 1 dash of ground cinnamon 
• Top with hot apple cider or (hot water)

Directions: Pour all the ingredients into a sauce pan over low heat, and stir until butter is melted and incorporated. Serve in a tea cup, and garnish with two cloves and a star anise.

Frosty

Who said tequila wasn’t a wintry spirit? Codigo 1530 brings a fun and festive cocktail recipe that will catch the eye of everyone at your holiday party.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Codigo Reposado
• 1 oz lemon juice
• ¾ oz agave
• ½ oz blue curacao
• ¼ oz orgeat
• Mint sprig, blackberry, blueberry and raspberry for garnish

Directions: Add all ingredients to a shaker and strain over crushed ice. Garnish with mint and berries. Dust with powdered sugar.

Belvedere Hot Toddy

Belvedere knows a thing or two about celebration, and for its holiday recipe, the vodka company goes with a classic: the hot toddy!

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Belvedere vodka
• 1½ oz hot water
• 1 oz French fortified wine
• ½ oz fresh lemon juice
• ½ oz ml honey
• 1 cinnamon stick
• Fresh grated nutmeg
• Orange wedge
• Cloves

Directions: Add hot water to heat a glass mug, then honey to melt. Add remaining liquid ingredients. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and orange wedge, and top with freshly grated nutmeg. Option to pierce orange wedge with 3 cloves.

Cardamom Mulled Wine

Mulled wine is a staple of the colder months and holiday season that’s been around for literal centuries. See what all the fuss is about and make it a tradition in your home with this recipe from Chambord.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Chambord
• 6 oz good-quality red wine 
• 1 oz apple juice 
• 1 bag chai tea 
• ⅛ tsp cardamom 
• A pinch black pepper

Directions: Place all of the ingredients into a pot and bring to medium heat. Once the mixture starts to simmer, reduce the heat and cover. Let steep for 5 to 10 minutes, and strain the tea bags. Serve!

Kilkea Cold Toddy

Kilkea Castle in Irelands knows how to throw a party. Travel to the Emerald Isle with this festive concoction that mixed fruity flavors and spices with whiskey and red mead.

Ingredients:

• 35m of whiskey
• 25m of Irish red mead
• 15m of cinnamon
• Two dashes of orange bitters
• 25m of lemon juice
• 5 cubes of Ice
• 25m of egg whites
• Snow-sprinkled berries
• Boston shaker 
• Footed tumbler

Directions:  Dry shake egg whites in Boston shaker. Store egg whites in a glass, and clean the shaker. Add Knappogue Castle 12 yo Whiskey, Irish Red Mead, cinnamon, orange bitters, lemon juice and ice cubes to the cleaned shaker, then add prepared egg whites. Shake all contents for 35 seconds. Pour contents into footed tumbler. Garnish with Snow Sprinkled Berries. Enjoy!

What's Good Cocktail

Fashion designer Romeo Hunte teamed with Bombay Sapphire on a specialty cocktail for bars and restaurants in New York City this holiday season. If you can't try it on site at Ama West Village, Dante West Village, Lil Frankie’s, or Gelson and Grande, just make it for yourself! This cocktail is inspired by Hunte’s chic street designs. 

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz Bombay Sapphire
• 3 oz ginger beer 
• 2 oz cranberry juice

Directions: Build in your favorite balloon glass or coupe, and garnish with a lime wedge, dried orange or sugared cranberries.