13 best festive whisky cocktails to drink in December

Mulled Cider Punch

Spice up your season with a Christmas whisky cocktail that keeps on giving. Combining all those beloved autumnal flavours with the spice of cider and cinnamon, it’s a whisky winter warmer you’ll go back to again and again.

Our ​​apple cider punch is the perfect centrepiece for the big day, a casual get together, or quiet night in. Just make as much as you need for your number of guests.

Whisky Hot Chocolate

Nothing says cosy Christmas evening like a cup of comforting hot chocolate. And this recipe’s a real crowd pleaser (for anyone of legal drinking age of course). The sweet, syrupy notes of Ballantine’s Finest add a hint of warming spice – guaranteed to keep you toasty all winter long.

Mix up a mug of hot chocolate and whisky and go nuts on your favourite toppings – we hear the hazel or pecan kind are pretty great. Puns aside, whipped cream is an obvious choice. Go classic with marshmallows and chocolate flakes or take it up a level with chunks of fudge, desiccated coconut or mint leaves.

Cranberry Christmas Cocktail

What happens when you throw every festive flavour into a cocktail shaker? We tried it – with the help of a seasoned bartender – and boy oh boy it’s good. Meet the Ballantine’s whisky Christmas cocktail, a sweet and spicy mix of all things wonderful. 

Classic cranberry, cinnamon and cloves compliment a homemade pear sugar syrup, served warm to sip by the Christmas tree. We like it so much we drink it 365 days a year – but that’s really up to you.

Festive Old Fashioned

Come all ye faithful to the Old Fashioned; we have a festive variation on your go to drink you’re guaranteed to love. Traditionally this classic cocktail highlights the rich vanilla and honey notes of whisky with the complex spices of Angostura. We’ve simply taken it one step further.

Make your scotch with a twist with Ballantine’s 23 Year Old and orange bitter ice cubes that slowly melt for an accentuated taste. Topped with twirls of orange rind.

Cool Cranberry Punch

If you’re looking for a Christmas party punch that’ll please the masses, this recipe is for you. Sweet and tart, it’s perfect for festive occasions with friends or family – even the fussy lot you’re obliged to invite.

Mix whisky with cranberry juice and a few other lush ingredients to make a jug of berry deliciousness. Feeling fancy? Add apple slices and red fruits to make it pitcher perfect.

Traditional Hot Toddy

It’s warm, it’s wintery. It’s the hot toddy cocktail. This one might be a little on the traditional side but you know what they say – if it’s ain’t broke, don’t fix it. 

Stir in the healing spices of cinnamon, honey, cloves and lemon to a dash of Ballantine’s whisky and hot water. Cold evenings sorted.

True New Sour

New York, New York. It’s a city that shines at Christmastime (literally; have you seen the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights?!). So what better way to celebrate the Big Apple than a festive spin on their classic cocktail. 

Introducing the True New Sour, our variation on the New York Sour that puts the seasonal spice in all things nice. Ripe pear, cinnamon and cloves are just some of the flavours you’ll get your mitts on with this delicious drink. It even looks great, topped with frothy white ‘snow’ and a red wine layer.

Christmas Whisky Sour

Sticking with sours, you can’t go wrong with a festive twist on this classic concoction. The scotch Whisky Sour has been celebrated for over 150 years, with tons of variations to please every taste bud.

Make yours a Christmas special by replacing lemon juice for orange or cranberry. Or add a pinch of cinnamon and dash of maple syrup with your bitters. ‘Tis the season after all!

Whisky Milkshake

Is it dessert? Is it a milkshake? Is it a sickly sweet cocktail we simply must try? Yes, yes and yes! Are you ready?

Say hello to perhaps our best invention yet; the Ballantine’s Whisky Shake. It’s got ice cream. It’s got liquid chocolate. Hell it’s even got cookies, donuts, popcorn and any other toppings you want to throw at it. You’re welcome.

Honey & Cinnamon Highball

Hey honey it’s Christmastime! If you fancy a toddy without the heat, e’ve got you covered. This whisky Christmas drink is one of our favourites, a real treasure shall we say.

Essentially a honey and cinnamon whisky highball, we’ve mixed all the flavours of a hot toddy with spiced ginger beer to create a sweet and zesty cocktail that’s as cool and fresh as you.

Flat white Christmas

No menu of whisky holiday cocktails would be complete without this coffee-based serve. After all, you’ll need a caffeine kick after unwrapping presents and carving the turkey. 

This whisky iced coffee merges rich espresso with Ballantine’s Finest for the perfect bittersweet balance. Served over ice to keep things chill.

Apple cider slushie

If you’re seeking refreshing Christmas scotch cocktails, this Apple Cider Slushie won’t leave you disappointed. 

Create a blizzard in your blender with crisp apple cider, ice, lemon and sugar syrup before pouring the resultant slush into a glass and drizzling with Ballantine’s to add fresh, sweet and floral notes.

Peanut butter hot toddy

When you think of whisky Christmas cocktails, peanut butter might not be a flavour at the forefront of your mind-but after you try this delicious cup of joy, it’ll become one of your festive must-haves. 

This peanut butter whisky cocktail combines smooth peanut butter and even smoother Ballantine’s with the warming flavours of cinnamon and nutmeg for the perfect evening treat.

Discover more whisky cocktails to shake up year round with your favourite bottle of Ballantine’s.