4 Christmas Whiskey Cocktails for the Holiday Season

For many of us, Christmas is a magical time filled with just as many wintertime festivities as there are presents under the tree. Whether you’re lacing up your skates for a twilight spin around the ice rink, taking Christmas card photos with the family, building a scarf-clad snowman in your front yard, or winding down by the fireside, you can gift yourself with a festive whiskey cocktail to usher in the season in style.

And the slushy goodness of our whiskey-infused SLIQ alcohol ice pops are the perfect addition to any snow day—that’s why this Christmas list is all about our favorite holiday whiskey cocktails.

Don’t celebrate Christmas? Of course, that doesn’t have to stop you from making these cocktails, but if you enjoy other festive holidays, consider our recipes for Hanukkah cocktails. Or, if someone in your life is not a big whiskey drinker, you can present them with a chilly winter vodka cocktail.

(Remember, two SLIQ Spirited Ice pops contain the equivalent amount of alcohol to a typical cocktail. But if you really want to make it onto the naughty list, you can go as high as four pops per serving.)

#1 Mulled Pear & Ginger Brew

Mulled wine is a popular staple of the holiday season, but we think we could kick it up a notch. This mulled, wine-inspired pear and ginger brew holiday cocktail elicits memories of gingerbread houses, gourmet fruit baskets, and the warmth of a fireplace.

This Christmas cocktail, inspired by chef Jamie Oliver, is wrapped in a bow for all to enjoy:¹

2 SLIQ Spirited Ice Whiskey Apple Pops (per serving)
2 liters cloudy apple juice or apple cider
2 thumb-sized ginger pieces, sliced
2 ripe pears, sliced
2 cinnamon sticks
4 cardamom pods
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 limes, juiced and zested

Add all the ingredients, except for your SLIQ Spirited Ice Pops, into a large saucepan, then bring the mixture to a boil. Once your apple-pear brew is bubbling, reduce the heat and simmer until the sugar is dissolved. The longer you let this concoction simmer, the more all those delicious holiday spices absorb.

Finally, pour your two SLIQ Whiskey Apple Pops into a mug and scoop in a generous serving of your warm liquid.

#2 Spiced Orange Whiskey Sour

Craft a spiced orange sour for a winter afternoon filled with zest to complement your orange garland on the mantle. To create the perfect Christmas cocktail, you’ll first need to make a simple spiced syrup.² The ingredients are as follows:

½ cup sugar
½ cup water
10 cardamom pods
5 whole cloves
3 whole black peppercorns
3-star anise
1 cinnamon stick
A strip of clementine peel (juice the rest of the orange for later)
One ½-inch piece of ginger, peeled and smashed

Making a simple syrup is pretty… well, simple. Just add all of those ingredients into a saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil. Cook for a few minutes until the sugar dissolves, then strain it into an airtight container.

Once your spiced syrup is ready, you can shake up a delicious spiced orange whiskey sour. We like to think this is how Santa chills out after 24 hours of delivering presents:

2 SLIQ Spirited Ice Whiskey Ginger Pops
4 teaspoons spiced syrup
4 teaspoons fresh clementine juice
1 egg white

Add those four ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake until the mixture becomes frothy. Strain the results into a coupe and enjoy your ho-ho-homemade delight.

#3 Vanilla Cola White Russian

Usually, White Russians are made with vodka. But, for this sweetened holiday blend, we’ve instead opted to incorporate our Whiskey Cola pop for some added kick and sweetness:

2 SLIQ Spirited Ice Whiskey Cola Pops
1 ½ ounces Kahlua
1-ounce vanilla simple syrup
1-ounce heavy cream

Mix all your ingredients and serve. This combination is delightful when staying up late on Christmas Eve with the little ones as you wait for the pitter-patter of hooves on your rooftop.

#4 Cinnamon Whiskey Old Fashioned

What list of holiday whiskey cocktails would be complete without an Old Fashioned? It’s sweet & syrupy notes and warm flavors of cinnamon and whiskey set the mood for an intimate gift exchange by a crackling fire:

2 SLIQ Spirited Ice Whiskey Apple Pops
1 teaspoon sugar
¼ cup orange juice
1 dash orange bitters
1-2 ounces of cinnamon syrup (you could also use the winter spice syrup that we made above)

Combine your ingredients in a cocktail shaker, shake them up like you’re trying to figure out what’s inside a present, and then strain the mixture into a cocktail glass.

If desired, you can garnish this Christmas-y Old Fashioned with a slice of orange, a cinnamon stick, or even some rosemary. To really elevate this holiday cocktail—and give it a dose of Christmas cookie style—consider tossing a thin slice of orange in sugar, briefly cooking it in a pan, and then muddling it at the bottom of the glass.

Get in the Holiday Spirit With SLIQ Spirited Ice Pops

Whether you’re decorating the banister in lights and garland or sitting back on Christmas morning as your kids marvel at their new goodies, put a few Christmas whiskey cocktails under the tree for yourself.

SLIQ’s Frozen Whiskey Ice Pops might not be made in Santa’s workshop, but they are crafted with premium barrel-stored bourbon whiskey. They also make a perfect stocking stuffer… assuming you hang your stocking in the freezer. Unlike your ugly Christmas sweaters, SLIQ Spirited Ice pops never go out of season.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays from everyone at SLIQ!

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