5 Easy Holiday Cocktails With Global Inspiration

This year, mix up holiday cocktails with great taste, global inspiration, and sophisticated style. These aren’t your usual holiday cocktail ideas, but you didn’t come here seeking “the usual,” did you? Try some of these unique cocktail recipes for your holiday entertaining or enjoy them any time of year!

Citrus holiday cocktails for brunch

Move over, mimosas–that’s right, we said it! We wanted to mix up a drink that was filled with citrus flavor and was an homage to our Mediterranean-inspired print, Orange Blossom. Our Orange Blossom cocktail is a sweet and refreshing departure from the typical brunch standby.

• 3 oz.orange juice
• 1 oz. sweet vermouth
• 1 oz. gin (Bombay Sapphire)

Shake in a cocktail shaker filled with ice & strained into your glass, or mix and stir into a chilled glass. Delicious either way. Garnish with an orange twist. Makes one.

Try this for your Christmas parties or at brunch on New Year’s Day–or any time you want to enjoy an orange-inspired adult beverage. And if you love a theme for hosting, brunching, and other entertaining, keep in mind that this one is always better served on linens from our Orange Blossom collection.

A cozy, fruity holiday cocktail for Thanksgiving

Our Ruby Kilim linens have a warm and cozy feel to them. With their Persian pattern and colors as rich as the spices of the region (hello, spice route!), we found ourselves inspired to whip up a batch of Spiced Bourbon Cider. This is a great holiday cocktail recipe for a crowd, and it’s an easy way to boost the flavor and fragrance of your favorite fall drink.

• 3 star anise
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 T. whole allspice
• 1/4 tsp. whole cloves
• 1/2 gallon fresh apple cider
• 1 c. bourbon

1. Place spices in a small skillet. Heat on medium for 2 minutes or until you can detect their delectable aroma wafting from the pan. Set aside.
2. Pour cider into a Dutch oven or small stockpot. Add the toasted spices and stir well. Bring to a simmer and then set on low heat for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Garnish with a cinnamon stick or orange peel, or float a star anise over the top if you adore the flavor of anise.
4. Pour in the bourbon and serve on a table dressed in our Ruby Kilim table linens.

A Moroccan-inspired holiday cocktail recipe

If your idea of the holidays involves a coastal getaway, then this is the holiday cocktail for you! Our Casablanca collection is a fresh interpretation of a Moroccan classic–and so is this cocktail. With notes of lime, orange, cherry, and rum, it’s a surprisingly not-too-sweet adult version of a cherry limeade. Kick back and relax with a Casablanca cocktail this holiday season!

1 part lime juice
1 part Triple Sec
1 1/2 parts light rum
1/2 part cherry liqueur (we used Luxardo)

Shake in a cocktail shaker filled with ice & strain into your glass. Garnish with a twist of lime or lemon. Makes one. Enjoy over some tasty treats served on our Casablanca table linens.

A gorgeous and easy twist on a classic

Patricia Maristch of The Preppy Publicist loves to entertain, and she introduced us to this delectable and super simple holiday cocktail recipe. She served it at Thanksgiving, but you could definitely mix this up for your holiday parties and celebrations (or simply enjoy any time of year!).

• 1 oz. orange vodka
• 4.5 oz. Trader Joe’s Sparkling Pomegranate Punch beverage

1. Add 3-4 ice cubes to an old-fashioned glass.
2. Pour in the Trader Joe’s sparkling beverage.
3. Top with orange vodka and stir.

This recipe makes one, but you could make a larger batch and serve it from a pitch or in a punch bowl, too. You can also use Trader Joe’s Cranberry Ginger beverage if you can find–this is how Patricia made this cocktail, but we think pomegranate is a perfect–and seasonal–substitute.

Be sure to set the table with our Tropical Garden tablecloth for a festive celebration.

Jazz Age-inspired holiday cocktails

The Manhattan came into vogue during the Jazz Age, when speakeasies were open and the gin flowed freely. For a holiday spin on this classic cocktail, we turn to this most excellent recipe (courtesy The Food Network) that features bourbon and chocolate. It’s really the bees knees!

• 2 oz. bourbon
• 1 oz. sweet vermouth
• 4 dashes chocolate bitters
• orange slice 

1. Pour the bourbon, vermouth and bitters into a mixing glass.
2. Add ice and stir. 
3. Strain into your drinking glass (a martini glass or an old-fashioned glass will work here). 
4. Garnish with an orange slice.

Our 1920 collection of Art Deco patterns provides the ideal backdrop for any chic holiday cocktail party. Inspired by the Chrysler building, Art Deco jewelry, and more, it’s the perfect accompaniment to your holiday cocktails.