Why, hello holidays! It somehow feels like Christmas snuck up on us, and now we’re only days away from all the festive fun. We’ve been celebrating all month long like there’s no tomorrow, but we’re not done yet. The holidays are the perfect time for gathering friends for sips and snacks, and today we’re sharing a few festive cocktails that will have all of your guests begging for the recipe. We’ve mixed up our fair share of holiday cocktails over the years, so without further ado, let us introduce you to the “best-of” our winter cocktails from Christmas past…

Beach Sprinkles Spiked Hot Chocolate

When the holidays roll around, you can bet you’ll find us sipping on a regular cup of hot cocoa. But we have to admit, one of our favorite variations is hot cocoa with a kick… a.k.a. this sprinkled and spiked hot chocolate. It’s especially good on cold days at home, and even better shared with friends bundled up around the fire—or perhaps gathered together for a little holiday game night fun. You can find the full recipe and list of ingredients here.

Cinnamon Rosemary Bourbon Old Fashioned

Honey, rosemary, cinnamon, and orange are just a few of the warm flavors you’ll find in this cocktail, and we’ll tell you now that it’s a pretty killer combination. This cinnamon rosemary bourbon old fashioned with homemade simple syrup is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy, and makes the perfect libation for those crisp winter happy hours. Did we mention it’s best served on our acrylic ski tray? Just sayin’… Get the recipe for this holiday sip here.

Sparkling Spiced Pear Cocktail

This cocktail recipe almost broke the internet when we posted it on the blog a couple years back, and we’re still just as crazy about it today as we were then. With fresh vanilla, thyme, pear juice, cinnamon, and a shot of vodka (yes, please!) this sparkling spiced pear cocktail has become one of our winter favorites. It doesn’t hurt that they’re pretty photogenic, too… You can find the instructions on how to whip up this cocktail right here.

Spiked Pumpkin Hot Chocolate

We weren’t kidding when we said we were crazy about our holiday hot cocoa… This pumpkin hot chocolate is not only the perfect five o’clock sip after a long winter work day, but it’s also great for families, since it can be made sans-alcohol and turns out just as delicious as its boozy counterpart. Just add these ingredients, pop in the microwave, top with whip and sprinkles, and voila! You can learn how to make this perfect pumpkin drink here.

Bonus: The Best Red Wines for the Holidays

While we love a good festive cocktail, we know that not everyone likes the same flavors we do. That said, this one is for all of you wine lovers out there! These are the best red wines for the holidays, hand selected by Gray himself. Whether you’re pairing with something salty or sweet, having a glass with a full holiday spread or just sipping on the couch, this post is incredibly informative, even for those who think they’re not a fan of reds. (It might change your mind!) Plus, it gives great background on how to pick out the perfect wine to give as a host or hostess gift when you show up to your holiday parties this season.

Are you going to be sipping on any of these libations this holiday season?

We hope you found a new holiday cocktail to love here. We can say we back each and every one on this list! For more seasonal cocktails and treats, visit our Sips & Snacks page on the blog.

Cheers,

Xx Team GM

Photos: Jessi Burrone for GrayMalin.com