Beyond Eggnog:

Special Tipples

to Keep Guests Warm and Merry

Quick Summary

If you are looking for drinks to keep warm in winter, you’d know that when it comes to holiday parties, even your favourite TV shows and movies know that a great drink can make all the difference. Think of the steaming cups in Harry Potter’s Great Hall, the glistening mulled wines in The Crown, or the cosy hot toddies in Friends during chilly New York winters. It’s time to create such an experience at your own Christmas party.

Deep Dive

Drinks aren’t just beverages; they serve as the fuel for guests to swap stories and share warmth, setting the scene for laughter and unforgettable memories. This season, you can channel that cinematic magic in your own home, serving up tipples that make every guest feel like they’ve stepped into a festive film scene. But before the films, series and Instagram-worthy cocktails or trending holiday drinks, people were keeping warm in winter with recipes handed down through generations. From mediaeval European mulled wines to colonial American hot buttered rum, these drinks were as much about health and community as they were about flavour. Read on for some ideas.

The Booze Booth

To keep the spirits high and laughter merry, Christmas needs a bit of booze, whether that is mulled with spices or hot rum. Guests will love these tipples.

Mulled Wine

Picture yourself at a medieval European Christmas market, hands wrapped around a steaming mug of spiced wine. That's the vibe you need for your Christmas gathering, and mulled wine will do the trick of warming your guests. It has been doing so since Roman times, when they heated wine with spices as they conquered Europe in the 2nd century BC. Fast forward to Victorian England, and you'd find locals sipping something called a Smoking Bishop. Then there’s today's mulled wine made with red wine and spices like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and star anise, orange slices and a bit of brandy.

Hot Buttered Rum

This drink dates back to the 1650s when Jamaica started shipping molasses to colonial America, leading to rum distilleries popping up across New England. The drinkers believed rum was nutritious and strengthened the body, so mixing it with butter, spices, and hot water seemed like smart medicine back in the day. Modern recipes use a spiced butter made with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and vanilla. Just drop a couple of tablespoons of this into a mug with dark rum and boiling water, and stir until frothy, and serve.

Hot Toddy

The hot toddy’s origin story has two competing theories – one tracing it to Edinburgh and the other to British-occupied India in the 1600s. An Irish doctor named Robert Bentley Todd also gets credit for prescribing patients a mixture of hot brandy, water, cinnamon, and sugar. Whatever its true origin, the hot toddy has become the go-to remedy for colds and chilly nights, making it the perfect party drink. The classic formula is simple: whiskey, honey, hot water, and lemon juice, sometimes with a cinnamon stick.

Yule Mule

The Yule Mule is the Christmas cousin of the famous Moscow Mule, which itself was invented in 1940s Hollywood. This festive cocktail keeps the traditional vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer base, but to suit the season, it uses cranberry juice. Some versions might use pine syrup and garnishes like rosemary and cranberries to mimic a holly. The drink is typically served in those iconic copper mugs. You can use different spirits like gin, rum, or bourbon instead of vodka. Make it extra special with cranberry ice cubes that won't water down your drink as they melt.

The Sober Station

With alcohol out of the way, some might be leaning towards a dry December, driving back home or just abstaining from alcohol. So, for those folks, set up a sober station with these drinks to grab. 

Spiced Cider

Spiced cider, also called mulled cider, has roots stretching back to mediaeval Europe and possibly even Roman times. When winter arrived, people began adding spices to their ciders and serving them hot to keep warm. American colonists also continued this tradition. The drink is essentially unfiltered apple cider heated with cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice, star anise, and nutmeg, sometimes with brown sugar and orange slices. The beauty of spiced cider is how your house fills with the most incredible aroma as it simmers. You can make it on the stovetop in twenty minutes or let it bubble away in a slow cooker for hours. The longer it simmers, the more intense the spice flavours become. For grown-ups who want a little kick, add rum, bourbon, or brandy to turn it into a spiked cider.

Cranberry Mocktail

This festive non-alcoholic drink will make everyone feel included at holiday parties. Cranberry mocktail is made with cranberry juice and orange juice or pomegranate juice, topped with something fizzy like ginger ale, ginger beer, or club soda. Fresh cranberries float on top along with orange slices and sometimes a sprig of rosemary or mint for that gorgeous pop of green against the red liquid. What makes these drinks special is how they capture the essence of Christmas without any alcohol. Cranberries are naturally high in antioxidants and vitamin C, so you're actually doing something good for your immune system during cold and flu season.

Hot Chocolate 

Hot chocolate has been a Christmas tradition ever since chocolate made its way to Europe in the early 18th century. Unlike the powdered stuff from packets, proper homemade hot chocolate is made by melting whole chocolate into warm milk and cream, creating a rich, velvety thick drink. The Christmas version often includes spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, plus a bit of vanilla extract. Some recipes use sweetened condensed milk to make it extra thick and creamy. Top it with freshly whipped cream, marshmallows, chocolate shavings, and crushed candy canes.

Christmas Punch

Don’t go by the name to think this one’s spiked. It can still serve as a centrepiece drink, which brings people together at holiday gatherings. While recipes vary wildly, most use fruit juices like cranberry, orange, pineapple, and pomegranate with something fizzy like ginger ale or lemon-lime soda. Some versions include frozen lemonade to add punch to this sweet drink. The punch is usually served in a large bowl with an ice ring made from frozen fruit and water to keep it cool without diluting the flavour. Fresh cranberries, orange slices, and sometimes pomegranate seeds float on top.

Sip, Sip, Hooray!

Whether you’re serving up a classic hot toddy, experimenting with a yule mule, or keeping things warm with spiced cider and cranberry mocktails, these drinks go beyond ordinary holiday beverages. They invite laughter, warmth, and shared moments that linger long after the last sip. So gather your mugs, mix up some magic, and toast to a holiday season full of festive cheer!