The holidays only come once a year, and that means only one thing: it is time to pop the cork on something spectacular. Whether you are hosting an intimate Christmas Eve dinner or a glittering holiday soiree, these christmas champagne cocktails are guaranteed to fill every flute with festive magic.
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Why Champagne Is the Ultimate Christmas Spirit
There is something almost theatrical about opening a bottle of Champagne. The gentle pop, the cascade of tiny bubbles rising in a crystal flute, the way the golden liquid catches the candlelight like a string of fairy lights. It is no wonder that christmas champagne cocktails have become synonymous with the most indulgent, most beloved season of the year.
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Champagne is not just a drink. It is a mood, a moment, a declaration that right now, something worth celebrating is happening. And during Christmas, every single moment qualifies. From the cozy morning unwrapping gifts in your favorite robe to the glamorous dinner table set with your finest china, champagne elevates every scene it enters. When you layer in the seasonal flavors of cranberry, pomegranate, warming spices, and fresh herbs, a simple flute of bubbly transforms into a full sensory experience that feels as festive as the season itself.
The global sparkling wine market was valued at over $35 billion in recent years, and the holiday season accounts for a significant spike in Champagne sales worldwide, with purchases surging by as much as 30 percent in November and December alone. This is no coincidence. The effervescence of Champagne mirrors the excitement of the season, making it the most natural canvas for festive cocktail creativity.
But holiday drinking goes beyond just uncorking a bottle. The modern cocktail renaissance has inspired home mixologists and professional bartenders alike to reimagine the champagne cocktail in vivid, seasonal ways. And today’s women, particularly those in their late twenties and thirties with a passion for lifestyle drinks and entertaining, are leading the charge. They want cocktails that are as beautiful as they are delicious, drinks that look as good on the table as they taste in the glass.
A Sparkling History: Champagne Cocktails Through the Ages
The story of champagne cocktails is one of elegance, war, invention, and a little bit of beautiful chaos. To truly appreciate the christmas champagne cocktails you are about to mix, it helps to understand where they came from.
Champagne itself hails from the Champagne region of northeastern France, a protected designation that means only sparkling wine produced in that specific area from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes can legally carry the name. The méthode champenoise, or traditional method, was refined in the 17th century, though legend has long (inaccurately) credited the monk Dom Pérignon with its invention. What is true is that by the 18th century, Champagne had become the drink of European royalty, aristocracy, and anyone with a taste for the finer things in life.
The champagne cocktail as a category began to take formal shape in the 19th century. By the mid-1800s, “champagne cups” were fashionable drinks combining Champagne with citrus, sugar, and ice. Records going back to 1867 even suggest that Charles Dickens enjoyed champagne “cups” with gin added during his visits to Boston, which contained all the bare bones of what would eventually become the iconic French 75.
The French 75, now one of the most celebrated champagne cocktails in history, first appeared in print in Harry MacElhone’s Harry’s ABC of Mixing Cocktails in 1922, though its recipe took its now-classic form of gin, sugar, lemon juice, and champagne in the 1927 book Here’s How. It was further popularized by The Savoy Cocktail Book in 1930 and famously appeared in the film Casablanca in 1942. The drink was named after a French light field gun of 75mm calibre, a nod to the “kick” the cocktail was said to deliver.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the French countryside, another legendary champagne cocktail was quietly being born. The Kir Royale traces its roots to Felix Kir, a French Catholic priest and decorated hero of the French Resistance who remained in Burgundy during World War II and helped free more than 4,000 prisoners of war. According to Larousse Gastronomique, the Kir aperitif was given its name in the 1960s by the chanoine Kir (1876-1968), then mayor of Dijon in Burgundy, who served his signature mix of white wine and crème de cassis at city hall receptions. After World War II, French bartenders began replacing the flat white wine with Champagne, keeping the crème de cassis in the recipe, and thus the Kir Royale was born, elevating the Kir to even greater heights.
Culturally, Champagne has always carried the weight of celebration. It is sprayed across Formula One victory podiums, poured at royal weddings, and sipped at every New Year’s countdown around the globe. During Christmas specifically, the ritual of opening Champagne has become deeply woven into the fabric of festive tradition across Europe, the Americas, and beyond. In France, it is nearly unthinkable to sit down to a réveillon feast without sparkling wine on the table. In the United Kingdom, Champagne cocktails grace every holiday party menu from November through January.
The beautiful truth about christmas champagne cocktails is that they are endlessly adaptable. Whether you prefer the bright tartness of cranberry, the warm depth of bourbon and spice, the floral whisper of elderflower, or the festive sweetness of pomegranate, there is a sparkling holiday cocktail designed for exactly your palate. And the best part? Most of them come together in under five minutes with minimal equipment. You do not need a degree from a bartending school. You need a good bottle, a beautiful glass, and the right recipe.
These 15 christmas champagne cocktails are your definitive holiday guide. Each one has been crafted for maximum festive impact, minimum stress, and maximum delight in every sip.
15 Must-Try Christmas Champagne Cocktails
The Classic Champagne Cocktail

What it looks and feels like: This is the original, the grande dame of all christmas champagne cocktails. Pale gold in the glass with a single sugar cube slowly releasing a stream of tiny bubbles from the bottom, it looks like something out of an old Hollywood film. It is understated glamour, designed for the woman who appreciates a touch of vintage sophistication at her holiday table.
Ingredients:
- 1 white sugar cube
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 150ml brut Champagne, chilled
- 1 strip of lemon peel, for garnish
- 1 Maraschino cherry, for garnish (optional)
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Instructions:
- Place the sugar cube at the bottom of a chilled Champagne flute.
- Saturate the sugar cube with 2 dashes of Angostura bitters.
- Slowly pour the cold Champagne over the sugar cube, allowing it to create a continuous stream of bubbles.
- Run the lemon peel around the rim of the glass, then twist it over the drink to release the citrus oils.
- Drop the lemon peel into the glass or drape it over the rim. Add a Maraschino cherry if desired.
- Serve immediately and admire the beautiful bubble trail rising from the sugar cube.
Kir Royal

What it looks and feels like: Deep ruby-pink, jewel-like, and gloriously festive, the Kir Royal is practically a Christmas cocktail by nature. The blackcurrant liqueur pools at the bottom and then blooms upward as the Champagne is poured, creating a gorgeous ombre effect. It is the aperitif of French elegance, effortlessly chic at any holiday gathering.
Ingredients:
- 15ml crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur)
- 120ml brut Champagne or Prosecco, chilled
- 1 lemon twist or fresh raspberry, for garnish
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Instructions:
- Chill your Champagne flute in the freezer for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Pour the crème de cassis into the bottom of the chilled flute.
- Slowly and gently pour the cold Champagne over the back of a spoon to preserve the bubbles and encourage the beautiful color gradient.
- If using a lemon twist, express the oils over the glass by twisting the peel, then rest it on the rim.
- Drop in a single raspberry for a festive pop of color and serve immediately.
French 75

What it looks and feels like: Crisp, citrusy, and deceptively strong, the French 75 is the cocktail equivalent of a beautiful woman with a razor-sharp wit. It arrives looking clean and pale gold in a tall glass over ice, garnished with a long curl of lemon peel. It is the perfect welcome drink for Christmas Eve, the one that sets the tone for the evening.
Ingredients:
- 30ml London dry gin
- 22ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 15ml simple syrup
- 90ml brut Champagne, chilled
- Ice cubes
- 1 long lemon peel, for garnish
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Instructions:
- Combine the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake vigorously for 10 to 15 seconds until well chilled.
- Strain into a tall highball glass or Collins glass filled with fresh ice.
- Top slowly with the chilled Champagne, pouring gently to preserve the bubbles.
- Garnish with a long, elegant curl of lemon peel draped over the edge of the glass.
- Serve immediately.
The Poinsettia

What it looks and feels like: Named after the quintessential Christmas flower, the Poinsettia is a vivid, crimson-red champagne cocktail that looks absolutely stunning in a tall flute. Think of it as a glamorous elevated cranberry mimosa with a sophisticated orange liqueur kick. It is the cocktail your guests will Instagram before they even taste it.
Ingredients:
- 60ml cranberry juice (100% real, not cocktail blend)
- 15ml Grand Marnier or Cointreau
- 90ml brut Champagne, chilled
- Fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary, for garnish
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Instructions:
- Pour the cranberry juice and Grand Marnier into a chilled Champagne flute.
- Stir gently to combine.
- Slowly top with the cold Champagne, tilting the glass slightly to preserve the effervescence.
- Give one very gentle stir with a long cocktail spoon.
- Drop in three or four fresh cranberries and tuck a small rosemary sprig behind the rim.
- Serve immediately and watch the room light up.
Cranberry Rosemary Champagne Fizz

What it looks and feels like: This cocktail is Christmas in a glass. Deep cranberry-red at the base with a rosemary sprig standing at attention, the sugared rim adds a sparkling snow-dusted effect that is simply magical. It is festive, fragrant, and perfectly balanced between tart and sweet. Serve it at a Christmas brunch and consider yourself the host of the season.
Ingredients:
- 30ml spiced cranberry simple syrup (simmer equal parts sugar and water with fresh cranberries, a cinnamon stick, and 2 cloves for 15 minutes, then strain and cool)
- 15ml fresh lemon juice
- 15ml gin
- 100ml brut Champagne or Prosecco, chilled
- Red sanding sugar and honey for the rim
- A sprig of fresh rosemary, for garnish
- 3 to 4 sugared cranberries, for garnish
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Instructions:
- Prepare the spiced cranberry syrup in advance and allow it to cool completely.
- Dip the rim of your Champagne flute into a little honey, then press it into the red sanding sugar to create a festive sugared rim. Set aside.
- Combine the cranberry simple syrup, lemon juice, and gin in a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake well for 10 seconds and strain into the prepared glass.
- Top gently with chilled Champagne.
- Garnish with a sprig of rosemary and a few sugared cranberries resting on the rim.
- Serve immediately.
Pomegranate Champagne Punch

What it looks and feels like: Rich, jewel-toned, and absolutely gorgeous in a punch bowl or individual flutes, this is the showstopper of all christmas champagne cocktails. The deep ruby pomegranate color is luxurious and festive, and the pomegranate arils floating in the glass look like little holiday ornaments. This one is perfect for a crowd.
Ingredients (serves 8):
- 240ml pomegranate juice
- 60ml Grand Marnier
- 30ml freshly squeezed lime juice
- 750ml bottle of brut Champagne or Prosecco, chilled
- 240ml ginger beer
- Pomegranate arils, sugared cranberries, and fresh mint, for garnish
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Instructions:
- Combine the pomegranate juice, Grand Marnier, and lime juice in a large pitcher. Stir well and refrigerate until cold.
- When ready to serve, place a large block of ice in a punch bowl or prepare individual glasses with ice.
- Pour the pomegranate mixture over the ice.
- Slowly add the chilled Champagne and ginger beer, stirring once very gently.
- Ladle into individual glasses and garnish with pomegranate arils, a few sugared cranberries, and a small sprig of fresh mint.
- Serve immediately.
Elderflower Twinkle

What it looks and feels like: Light, floral, and luminous, the Elderflower Twinkle is the most ethereal of all christmas champagne cocktails. Inspired by the glamour of the 1920s, it is a pale, golden-white cocktail with a whisper of floral sweetness that feels impossibly elegant. Scatter dried rose petals on top and the effect is breathtaking. This is the cocktail for your most sophisticated Christmas dinner party.
Ingredients:
- 30ml St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur
- 20ml fresh apple juice
- 10ml fresh lime juice
- 120ml brut Champagne, chilled
- Dried rose petals or an edible flower, for garnish
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Instructions:
- Combine the St-Germain, apple juice, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake gently for 8 to 10 seconds until chilled.
- Strain into a chilled Champagne flute or coupe.
- Top slowly with cold Champagne.
- Scatter a few dried rose petals on the surface of the cocktail.
- Serve immediately and prepare to receive compliments.
Spiced Apple Champagne Mule

What it looks and feels like: This is the warm, cozy, apple-spiced cousin of the classic Moscow Mule, given a sparkling holiday upgrade. The color is a warm amber-gold, and the combination of apple cider, ginger, and cinnamon makes every sip taste like Christmas morning in the countryside. Served over ice in a copper mug or a tall glass, it is casual holiday perfection.
Ingredients:
- 90ml spiced apple cider (warm it briefly with a cinnamon stick and star anise, then cool)
- 15ml bourbon
- 15ml ginger beer
- 75ml brut Champagne, chilled
- Ice
- A thin apple slice and a cinnamon stick, for garnish
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Instructions:
- Prepare the spiced apple cider in advance and allow to cool completely.
- Fill a copper mug or tall glass with ice.
- Pour in the bourbon and spiced apple cider. Stir once to combine.
- Add the ginger beer.
- Top carefully with the cold Champagne.
- Garnish with a thin slice of fresh apple fanned out on the rim and a cinnamon stick tucked beside it.
- Serve immediately.
Blood Orange Champagne Spritz

What it looks and feels like: The blood orange gives this cocktail an absolutely stunning deep coral-red color that feels dramatic and festive without any effort at all. It is bright, citrusy, and lively, the kind of drink that wakes up the room. A blood orange twist draped over the edge of a coupe glass is all the garnish this beauty needs.
Ingredients:
- 45ml blood orange juice, freshly squeezed
- 15ml blood orange liqueur (such as Thatcher’s Blood Orange or Aperol)
- 10ml honey syrup (equal parts honey and warm water, stirred to combine)
- 90ml brut Champagne, chilled
- 1 blood orange twist, for garnish
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Instructions:
- Combine the blood orange juice, blood orange liqueur, and honey syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Stir for 10 to 15 seconds until chilled.
- Strain into a chilled coupe or Champagne flute.
- Top gently with cold Champagne.
- Express a blood orange twist over the glass to release its oils, then rest it decoratively on the rim.
- Serve immediately.
Mulled Fizz

What it looks and feels like: Imagine mulled wine, but lifted and made sparkling. The Mulled Fizz is a warm-spiced, deeply aromatic champagne cocktail that smells like Christmas as soon as it is poured. Cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and clementine swirl together in a spiced syrup that anchors the whole drink, while the Champagne keeps it light and celebratory. Serve it in a rocks glass with a wide orange peel curl and a light dusting of freshly grated nutmeg.
Ingredients:
- 30ml spiced syrup (simmer 120ml water, 120ml sugar, 1 cinnamon stick, 4 cloves, 1 star anise, and the peel of 1 clementine for 10 minutes, then strain and cool)
- 20ml spiced dark rum
- 20ml clementine juice, freshly squeezed
- 10ml ruby port
- 90ml brut Champagne, chilled
- Freshly grated nutmeg and an orange peel curl, for garnish
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Instructions:
- Prepare the spiced syrup in advance and allow to cool completely.
- Combine the spiced syrup, dark rum, clementine juice, and port in a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake well for 10 seconds.
- Strain into a chilled rocks glass or stemmed wine glass over a large ice cube.
- Top gently with cold Champagne.
- Garnish with a generous curl of orange peel and a fine dusting of freshly grated nutmeg over the top.
- Serve immediately.
Gingerbread Champagne Cocktail

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What it looks and feels like: Sweet, spiced, and impossibly festive, the Gingerbread Champagne Cocktail is the dessert drink of the christmas champagne cocktails world. A warm amber color with a froth of bubbles at the top, it tastes like your favorite Christmas cookie translated into liquid form. A spiced sugar rim and a crystallized ginger garnish make it utterly irresistible.
Ingredients:
- 30ml gingerbread syrup (simmer 120ml water, 120ml brown sugar, 1 tsp ground ginger, 0.5 tsp cinnamon, 0.25 tsp ground cloves, and 1 tsp vanilla for 10 minutes, cool and strain)
- 15ml bourbon or dark rum
- 10ml fresh lemon juice
- 90ml brut Champagne, chilled
- Cinnamon sugar for the rim
- Candied ginger and a cinnamon stick, for garnish
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Instructions:
- Prepare the gingerbread syrup in advance and allow it to cool fully.
- Rim your Champagne flute with a little simple syrup and then press it into cinnamon sugar.
- Combine the gingerbread syrup, bourbon, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake well for 10 seconds and strain into the prepared glass.
- Top slowly with cold Champagne.
- Garnish with a piece of candied ginger on a cocktail pick and rest a cinnamon stick along the rim.
- Serve immediately.
Peppermint Champagne Martini

What it looks and feels like: Cool, crisp, and festively minty, this champagne cocktail is the most unexpectedly refreshing drink on the Christmas table. Pale and sparkling with a sugar-and-crushed-peppermint rim, it looks like a snow globe in a glass. The combination of mint and bubbles is genuinely addictive, making it one of those christmas champagne cocktails that disappears very quickly from the tray.
Ingredients:
- 30ml vodka
- 15ml white crème de menthe
- 15ml white crème de cacao
- 60ml brut Champagne, chilled
- Crushed candy canes and white sugar for the rim
- A small candy cane, for garnish
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Instructions:
- Mix crushed candy cane pieces with white sugar on a small plate.
- Moisten the rim of a chilled coupe or martini glass with a little water or simple syrup, then press it into the candy cane sugar mixture.
- Combine the vodka, crème de menthe, and crème de cacao in a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake vigorously for 12 seconds until very cold.
- Strain carefully into the prepared glass.
- Top gently with the cold Champagne.
- Hook a small candy cane over the rim as a festive garnish.
- Serve immediately.
Cranberry Bourbon Champagne Smash

What it looks and feels like: Bold, rich, and a little bit sultry, the Cranberry Bourbon Champagne Smash is the most grown-up of all christmas champagne cocktails. The bourbon adds a warm, oaky depth that pairs beautifully with the tart cranberry and the lifting effervescence of Champagne. It is a deep garnet red, served over crushed ice in a short rocks glass with a sprig of fresh thyme. This is the cocktail for those who like their holiday drinks with a little backbone.
Ingredients:
- 45ml bourbon
- 45ml cranberry juice (100% real)
- 15ml simple syrup
- 10ml fresh lemon juice
- 4 fresh cranberries, muddled
- 60ml brut Champagne, chilled
- Crushed ice
- Fresh thyme sprigs and a few cranberries, for garnish
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Instructions:
- Muddle the 4 fresh cranberries with the simple syrup in the bottom of a cocktail shaker until the skins break and the juice is released.
- Add the bourbon, cranberry juice, and lemon juice to the shaker with ice.
- Shake vigorously for 12 seconds.
- Fill a rocks glass with crushed ice.
- Strain the cocktail mixture over the crushed ice.
- Top gently with cold Champagne.
- Garnish with a small bundle of fresh thyme and three whole cranberries threaded on a cocktail pick.
- Serve immediately.
Fig and Amaretto Champagne Fizz

What it looks and feels like: Warm, honeyed, and wonderfully sophisticated, the Fig and Amaretto Champagne Fizz is the cocktail that feels like a gift. Its deep amber-rose color comes from the fig liqueur, and the almond sweetness of amaretto adds a nutty warmth that feels almost dessert-like. A golden sanding sugar rim gives it an unmistakable festive glamour. This is the christmas champagne cocktail for your most elegant holiday dinner party.
Ingredients:
- 20ml amaretto
- 20ml fig liqueur (or fig syrup combined with a splash of vodka)
- 6 fresh mint leaves
- 5ml simple syrup
- 90ml Prosecco or brut Champagne, chilled
- Gold sanding sugar and honey for the rim
- A fresh fig slice or a mint sprig, for garnish
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Instructions:
- Dip the rim of a Champagne flute into a little honey, then press it into gold sanding sugar. Set aside.
- Place the mint leaves and simple syrup in the bottom of a cocktail shaker and muddle gently until the mint is fragrant.
- Add the amaretto and fig liqueur to the shaker with ice.
- Stir gently for 8 seconds (avoid shaking to keep the mint from becoming bitter).
- Strain into the prepared glass.
- Top slowly with cold Champagne or Prosecco.
- Garnish with a thin slice of fresh fig resting on the rim or a small mint sprig.
- Serve immediately.
Sparkling Rosemary Gold Fizz

What it looks and feels like: This is the most strikingly beautiful of all the christmas champagne cocktails in this collection. Crystal-clear with golden shimmer, fragrant with fresh rosemary, and adorned with a sprig of sugared rosemary that looks like it has been dipped in frost, it is as close to bottled winter magic as a cocktail can get. The combination of honey, lemon, and fresh rosemary is quietly sensational.
Ingredients:
- 30ml vodka
- 20ml rosemary honey syrup (simmer 120ml honey with 60ml water and 2 rosemary sprigs for 10 minutes, cool and strain)
- 15ml fresh lemon juice
- 90ml brut Champagne or Prosecco, chilled
- Sugared rosemary sprigs (dip fresh rosemary in simple syrup, then roll in white sugar and allow to dry on a rack for 30 minutes)
- Gold luster dust (optional but absolutely stunning)
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Instructions:
- Prepare the rosemary honey syrup and sugared rosemary in advance. Allow both to cool completely before using.
- Combine the vodka, rosemary honey syrup, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake well for 10 seconds until chilled.
- Strain into a chilled Champagne flute.
- Top gently with cold Champagne.
- If using gold luster dust, pinch a tiny amount between your fingers over the top of the drink and watch the gold shimmer swirl through the bubbles.
- Place a sugared rosemary sprig across the rim of the glass.
- Serve immediately and watch your guests’ faces light up.
Tips for the Perfect Christmas Champagne Cocktail
Getting your christmas champagne cocktails exactly right is part knowledge, part instinct, and part knowing a few insider secrets that make all the difference.
Always start with cold Champagne. A warm bottle will be over-carbonated when opened, and the bubbles will dissipate far too quickly. Chill your bottle to around 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (4 to 7 degrees Celsius) and keep it in the fridge until the very moment you are ready to pour. Pre-chilling your glasses in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes is another game-changing step that is shockingly easy to overlook.
When it comes to choosing your Champagne or sparkling wine for cocktails, you do not need to spend a fortune. A good brut Prosecco or Cava will perform beautifully in the mixed drinks above. Save your premium bottles of Grand Cru Champagne for drinking on their own, where the nuance of the wine can truly be appreciated. In cocktails, the sparkling wine is a supporting player, and a well-made Prosecco under $20 will honestly do the job brilliantly.
Pouring technique matters more than most people realize. Always add your Champagne last, after all other ingredients are in the glass or shaker. Pour slowly and gently, tilting the glass at a slight angle if possible, exactly the way a seasoned bartender pours beer to preserve the head. This preserves the bubbles and keeps your drink sparkling until the very last sip.
Finally, do not underestimate the power of a beautiful garnish. A sugared rosemary sprig, a curl of orange peel, a few jewel-bright pomegranate arils floating on the surface, or a candy cane hooked over the rim of a glass does not just make the drink look more beautiful. It sets the entire tone for the evening and tells your guests that you have put love into every detail. And during Christmas, that intention is the most festive ingredient of all.
Here is to a holiday season filled with beautiful glasses, wonderful company, and every sip tasting exactly like the magic it is meant to be. Cheers.
Explore more holiday drink inspiration and festive entertaining ideas for your most sparkling season yet.
Sources: https://chesbrewco.com
Category: Cocktails