12 warming winter cocktails for Christmas

Mince Pie Bramble at Dirty Bones

Hot Dog hound Dirty Bones is honouring the festive season with a Mince Pie Bramble, made with Bombay Sapphire gin shaken with lemon and a brandy and Port-infused mince pie reduction. Knock it back with festive bites like mac ‘n’ cheese balls with sweet chilli cranberry sauce.

Snowflake Sour at Aquavit

Buzzing new Scandi site Aquavit in St James’s Market has created a list of Nordic cocktails in time for Christmas including the Laponia Old Fashioned, made with pumpkin-infused Bourbon, birch syrup and gingerbread. We’ve got our eye on the Snowflake Sour, which blends Tanqueray, Pedro Ximénez, saffron syrup, egg white, lemon juice and cranberry bitters.

Holly Winter at Lodge d’Argent

Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without chic City venue Coq d’Argent transforming its terrace into a Little Red Riding Hood-inspired winter wonderland peppered with wooden cabins and animal hides. Among its winter warmers on offer this year is the Holly Winter, laced with Hennessey Cognac, sweet vermouth, ginger, spice syrup, cranberry juice and ginger ale.

By the Fireside at Cantina del Ponte

Italian trattoria Cantina del Ponte has teamed up with Pococello and Chase distillery to create a trio of cosy cocktails to get you into the festive spirit. We like the sound of the By the fireside, a blend of Pococello, Chase Marmalade vodka, lemon juice and homemade orange marmalade.

Festive Kiss at Skylon

Skylon on the Southbank has devised a trio of Christmas cocktails to see revelers through the festive season. Leading the pack is the Festive Kiss, a decadent blend of Martell Cognac, ratafia, cinnamon syrup and pear purée served with a piping hot mince pie. We also like the sound of the Treasure Island, which blends Appleton rum, prucia liqueur, apple juice, Angostura bitters and lemongrass served with pigs in blankets.

Scotch Pine at Duck and Waffle

In a bid to get grumpy Londoners into the festive spirit, Duck & Waffle’s Rich Woods has launched a fun new menu celebrating the 12 drinks of Christmas, capturing the essence of this most wonderful time of the year via winter ingredients like walnuts, chestnuts, pine, smoke, hay and minced pie liqueur. It’s hard to choose a favourite, but among the most festive is the lightly carbonated Scotch Pine, which marries pine-infused whisky, Christmas spices and distilled lemon.

Mulled Convair 340 at German Gymnasium’s Winter Market Terrace

Our favourite purveyors of juicy bratwurst and giant schnitzels, German Gymnasium, has erected a winter market terrace twinkling with fairy lights serving currywurst, fried camembert and a selection of rum-laced winter warmers like the Mulled Convair 340, which blends dark rum, red wine, grenadine, orange, lemon and Christmas spices. The First Class meanwhile, features rum and homemade falernum, ginger soda and lime.

Chilli Apple Bang-Bang at Blind Spot

Blind Spot, the speakeasy at the St Martin’s Lane hotel in Covent Garden, has whipped up a collection of Christmassy cocktails for the party season. We’re keen to try the naughty sounding Chilli Apple Bang-Bang, a fiery blend of chilli-infused Ketel One vodka, passoã, apple juice and passionfruit. The Blind Creek meanwhile, marries Knob Creek, Haig Club, Grand Marnier cider, cloves and cinnamon.

Hot Buttered Rum at Big Easy

Jumbo shrimp specialist Big Easy has gone hard with its winter cocktail menu, offering everything from mulled wine, cider and Sherry, and ginger-laced hot toddies to boozy hot chocolates oozing with sea salt and Woodford Reserve. Getting our pulse racing is the Hot Buttered Rum, an indulgent blend of Bacardi 8 Year Old, butter, Demerara sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and apple juice. If only it could be administered via a drip…

Nicolas Nightcap at 100 Wardour St

Late night drinking den 100 Wardour St in Soho is getting into the festive spirit via a collection of bespoke Christmas cocktails like the soothing Nicolas Nightcap, which blends vodka, Cointreau, honey water, lemon juice and house spice water.

Odin at Quaglino’s

London icon Quaglinos has concocted this showstopper as part of its Christmas cocktail offering. Named the Odin, it marries Barone de Sigognac 10, Maraschino, dry curaçao, pink grapefruit, Chandon sparkling wine and Quaglino’s homemade shrub garnished with a glittering burnt meringue.

Winter Daiquiri at Sartoria 

Chic Savile Row restaurant Sartoria has created a collection of winter cocktails in collaboration with Campari that are currently on pour on its winter terrace inspired by the Italian ski resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo. Among them is the Italian Affair, blending Bacardi, frangelico, coconut, lime and ginger; and the Winter Daiquiri, a twist on the Cuban classic featuring Appleton Estate Rare Blend rum, cinnamon, apple, lime and vanilla syrup.

Scarlett Sparkle at Ny-Lon

Ny-Lon, a cocktail bar within the O2 inspired by the glamourous early days of transatlantic travel, has created a selection of decadent winter cocktails to keep tongues wagging at work Christmas parties. Among them is the Scarlet Sparkle, featuring Prosecco and Briotteet cranberry liqueur topped with fresh redcurrants.