Holiday Cocktails That Make Any Event Feel Like a Movie

The holidays are basically one long highlight reel: cozy lights, loud laughs, and that one friend who insists Mariah is a personality trait. The drinks you serve can either blend into the background… or become part of the story.

At The Aero Bar, we build menus that feel like the season — warm, bright, a little nostalgic, and just fancy enough to make people pull out their phones. Whether you’re planning a company party, a wedding, or a neighborhood get-together, these holiday cocktails are crowd-pleasers that deliver big vibes without being fussy.

Below are five go-to holiday cocktails, plus easy batching + serving tips so your bar runs smooth all night.

1) The Evergreen Old Fashioned

Mood: Fireside, tailored coat, soft jazz.

Ingredients (per drink)

• 2 oz bourbon (or rye if you like spice)

• 1/4 oz maple syrup

• 2 dashes bitters

• Orange peel

• Optional: rosemary sprig

Build
Stir bourbon, maple, and bitters over ice until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over a big cube. Express orange peel over the top, garnish with rosemary for that pine-forest aroma.

Serve it like Aero Bar:
Rim the glass lightly with smoked salt or cinnamon sugar halfway so guests can choose the vibe.

2) Cranberry Mistletoe Margarita

Mood: Bright, festive, “one more song!”

Ingredients (per drink)

• 2 oz tequila blanco

• 1 oz cranberry juice

• 3/4 oz lime juice

• 1/2 oz triple sec

• 1/4 oz agave

• Sugared cranberries + lime wheel

Build
Shake hard with ice. Strain into a salted or sugar-rimmed glass over fresh ice.

Batch tip:
Multiply everything by 8–10 drinks, mix in a pitcher, and keep chilled. Shake each serving fresh to keep it lively.

3) Spiced Pear French 75

Mood: Elegant holiday toast.

Ingredients (per drink)

• 1 oz gin

• 3/4 oz spiced pear syrup*

• 1/2 oz lemon juice

• Champagne or Prosecco

• Pear slice or star anise

Build
Shake gin, syrup, lemon with ice. Strain into a flute and top with sparkling wine.

Spiced pear syrup (easy):
Simmer 1 cup pear nectar + 1 cup sugar + 1 cinnamon stick + 2 cloves for 8 minutes. Cool.

Why people love this:
It tastes expensive. Like “holiday brunch in a ski town” expensive.

4) Cocoa-Mint Espresso Martini

Mood: Dessert that keeps the party going.

Ingredients (per drink)

• 1.5 oz vodka

• 1 oz coffee liqueur

• 1 oz fresh espresso (or cold brew concentrate)

• 1/2 oz crème de cacao

• 2 drops peppermint extract or mint syrup

• Cocoa powder dust + 3 coffee beans

Build
Shake like your rent depends on it with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Dust with cocoa.

Pro move:
Serve mini versions after dinner — they disappear fast and feel super intentional.

5) The Winterberry Mule (NA friendly!)

Mood: Clean, crisp, everyone included.

Ingredients (per drink)

• 2 oz vodka or zero-proof spirit

• 1 oz blackberry or raspberry puree

• 1/2 oz lime

• Ginger beer

• Frozen berries + mint

Build
Pour spirits, puree, lime into a copper mug over ice. Top with ginger beer. Stir gently.

NA version that still feels special:
Use a zero-proof vodka or just skip it — the berry + ginger combo holds up on its own.