15 Tasty Wedding Cocktails That Your Guests Will Love

winter wedding cocktails peppermint love

Winter is a beautiful time of year to tie the knot, and although the temperatures are cooler and outdoor wedding venues may not be an option, you can still celebrate your love in a beautiful seasonally-themed wedding. The best part of holding a winter wedding is that you can have an array of delicious cocktails and beverages that will warm you up and taste just as the holidays should. We’ve compiled a list of 15 yummy signature cocktails that your winter wedding guests will love. Try out one, or try them all!

1. Apple Cranberry Smash

A delicious blend of fresh cranberries, warm cider and whiskey will warm you and your guests up with its tart flavor and frothy texture. You could even make a non-alcoholic version by removing the whiskey and using ginger ale instead of the cider beer.

2 parts warm apple cider
1 part whiskey
Handful of fresh cranberries
¼ cup cider beer
¼ teaspoon of ground cinnamon
Cinnamon stick

Muddle fresh cranberries in shaker and add warm cider and whiskey. Shake to combine. Pour into glass ¾ full and add Cider Beer. Stir to create frothy layer on top of glass. Garnish with ground cinnamon and cinnamon stick.

winter wedding cocktails apple cranberry cider

Photo and recipe via Brides



 

2. Raspberry Martini

A martini is the epitome of a classy cocktail, and a great way to liven up this classic drink is by adding raspberry to it! Raspberries paired with a touch of lemon add a lovely refreshing quality to this winter wedding cocktail.

1 ½ parts raspberry flavored vodka
1 part fresh lemon juice
1 part triple sec
6 fresh raspberries (split 3 for shaking, 3 for garnish)
Mint sprig

Pour vodka, lemon juice, triple sec and 3 fresh raspberries into a shaker over ice and shake vigorously. Strain into martini glass with 3 remaining raspberries in bottom of glass and garnish with mint sprig.

winter wedding drinks raspberry martini

Photo and recipe via Brides

 

3. Lava Lamp Cocktail

Champagne and bubbles are the best way to celebrate at a wedding, so why not serve a dressed up version at your winter wedding? Pomegranate is a tasty, fruity flavor that will be a great addition to any winter bar menu.

1 oz pomegranate liqueur or 3 tablespoons pomegranate juice
5 oz champagne
3 pomegranate seeds

Pour pomegranate liqueur in a champagne flute, then fill the glass with champagne slowly. Garnish with pomegranate seeds to float at the top.

winter wedding drinks pomegranate orange champagne

Photo and recipe via Ramblings From A Girlie Girl

 

4. The Perfect Pear

Pear is one of those mild fruity flavors that even people who don’t like sweets tend to enjoy. When you pair pear brandy with citrus accents, you get a sweet-tart combination that tastes like a freshly picked juicy pear.

2 oz pear brandy
3/4 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 oz freshly squeezed orange juice
1/2 oz simple syrup
Sugar to rim the glass

Add the pear brandy, lemon juice, orange juice, and simple syrup into an ice-filled shaker and shake until chilled. Strain the cocktail into the half sugar-rimmed coupe glass.

winter wedding cocktails pear brandy

Photo and recipe via Blossom Tostem

 

5. Frost Bite

Is there anything as indulgent as a coffee with chocolaty and creamy flavors? Turn this sweet treat into an adult beverage by adding liqueurs and vodka, or keep it kid-friendly by using chocolate and cream instead.

1 cup hot coffee
1 splash vodka
1 splash Kahlua
1 splash Godiva liqueur
1 splash heavy cream

Combine all ingredients in a glass and top with whipped cream.

winter wedding drinks coffee kahlua

Photo and recipe via WeddingWire

 

6. Lion’s Tail

Bourbon lovers will simply love the Lion’s Tail cocktail – a strong, holiday-flavored drink that is served on the rocks. The addition of allspice dram really brings the holiday flavors out!

1 part allspice dram
1 part lime juice
1 part simple syrup
6 parts bourbon
2 dashes bitters
Lime for garnish

Mix all ingredients together and serve over ice, with two dashes of bitters and a lime garnish.

winter wedding bourbon cocktails

Photo and recipe via A Practical Wedding



 

7. Boozy Mexican Hot Chocolate

Mexican hot chocolate differs from regular hot chocolate in that it’s slightly spicy and much thicker. Make it boozy and adult-friendly by adding mezcal and chocolate bitters – a combination that is strangely delicious.

1 cup spicy, thick hot chocolate
3 oz mezcal
7 dashes chocolate bitters
Cinnamon sticks for garnish

Mix mezcal and chocolate bitters into the thick hot chocolate. Serve with a cinnamon stick garnish.

winter wedding drinks hot chocolate

Photo and recipe via A Practical Wedding

 

8. Peppermint Love

Peppermint is the ultimate holiday season flavor, so naturally having a pepperminty drink at your winter wedding is a fantastic idea! This delicious concoction combines peppermint with coffee flavors to perk up your guests and refresh them at the same time.

1 oz peppermint schnapps
1 oz coffee-flavored Baileys
1/2 oz espresso liqueur
1 splash half and half

Garnish the glass rim with crushed candy canes or peppermints. Combine ingredients in glass and top with half and half.

winter wedding cocktails peppermint love

Photo and recipe via WeddingWire

 

9. Gingerbread Martini

Gingerbread is perhaps one of the most iconic holiday flavors in existence. Serve it in martini form at your winter wedding and your guests will surely love it.

2 oz gingerbread tea
2 oz gin
2 oz Grand Marnier
Ice

In a martini shaker combine ice cubes, and equal parts gin, Grand Marnier and steeped tea.
 Shake and serve in a chilled martini glass. Garnish with an orange twist.

winter wedding signature cocktails

Photo and recipe via Wedding Bells

 

10. Cinnamon Stick Cider

Cinnamon and apple cider are flavors that go hand in hand, especially during the winter season! Add some whiskey to please your wedding guests!

1 oz whiskey
1/2 oz cinnamon simple syrup
4-5 oz apple cider
Ice

Mix whiskey, cinnamon simple syrup and apple cider in a glass. Garnish the drink with a cinnamon stick. Serve cold by adding ice, or heat up to serve warm.

winter wedding signature drinks

Photo and recipe via Wedding Bells

 

11. Harvest Punch

Celebrate the apple harvest with an alcoholic punch! Lemon juice and maple syrup create the perfect flavor profile for this tasty winter wedding beverage.

2 oz rum
4 oz apple cider
1 oz maple syrup
1 oz lemon juice

Add all of the ingredients to an ice-filled shaker. Shake and strain into a Collins glass and garnish with apple slices.

winter wedding apple cider

Photo and recipe via Wedding Bells

 

12. Coco Snowball

Anything frosty and blue automatically fits into a winter wedding. Coconut and vanilla flavors make up this concoction that looks like a snowball!

2 oz vanilla flavored vodka
2 oz Malibu rum
2 oz Coco Lopez
¼ oz Blue Curacao

Shake well and pour into a martini glass. Rim glass with honey and fresh shredded coconut.

winter wedding cocktails

Photo and recipe via The Breakers

 

13. Candy Cane Cocktail

The minty flavor of candy canes is reminiscent of what the holiday season is all about, so what better way to incorporate it into your winter nuptials than with a yummy cocktail? This drink is refreshing and tastes just as a candy cane should.

1 candy cane, crushed, for garnish
2 ounces strawberry vodka
4 dashes white crème de menthe
2 ½ ounces cranberry juice
Ice cubes

Rim a martini glass with crushed bits of candy cane. Combine vodka, crème de menthe, cranberry juice and ice in a cocktail shaker; shake until well mixed. Strain into rimmed martini glass.

candy cane winter wedding cocktail

Photo and recipe via Martha Stewart

 

14. Eggnog Cocktail

Eggnog is a traditional holiday drink that is frequently enjoyed with loved ones while sitting around the fireplace. To channel the true holiday spirit at your winter wedding, eggnog is a tasty beverage that can be made with or without alcohol to please guests of all ages.

3 oz bourbon
3 oz white crème de cacao
6 tablespoons heavy cream
1 tablespoon superfine sugar
Ground nutmeg, for sprinkling

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake until frosty and strain mixture into glasses. Sprinkle cocktails with nutmeg for garnish.

eggnog holiday wedding drinks

Photo and recipe via Wedding TV



 

15. Cranberry Vanilla Skinny Cocktail

When you’re indulging in hearty winter snacks and foods, having a lighter cocktail is always a plus. This tasty skinny recipe will definitely put you in the holiday spirit!

juice and zest of 3 large navel oranges
2 12oz bags fresh cranberries
1/2 cup Truvia or sweetener of choice
2 cups water
3 cups vanilla vodka
1 large bottle sparkling water

Makes 12 servings.

Puree the juice, zest, cranberries and water in a blender, then strain through a sieve. Transfer into a pitcher, add the Truvia and vodka and mix. Serve over ice and top off with sparkling water. Garnish with orange zest and cranberries.

winter wedding drinks cranberry vanilla martini

Photo and recipe via The Fromagette

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