Nothing warms cold wintry nights of Christmas like soothing cocktails inspired by the festive season. You can always pop open a bottle of Baileys to keep yourself warm, but for some interesting drinks, you should dust off the bar and pick up a cocktail shaker. If you can’t make it to a local brewery or pub for some good heartwarming refreshment, or just want to spend the holiday season at home, then these recipes shouldn’t go amiss. Here are some creative tipples to toast it up with. All you need is, a well-stocked bar and a few aromatic spices, and some exotic fruits.

Christmas Jingle
Jaypee Vasant Continental, Delhi

Glass: Irish

Ingredients:

• 45ml white rum • 120ml red wine • 10-12 star anise florets (dry) • 1 cinnamon stick

Method:

This drink works perfectly for the entire festive season. For the infusion, put 10 star anise florets in white rum for 72 hours. Strain the infusion. Warm the red wine and pour over the infusion. Garnish the drink with a star anise and cinnamon stick.

Green Grinch
The Park New Delhi

Glass: Martini

Ingredients:

• 70ml melon liqueur • 15ml lemon juice •1 tsp of sugar • 30ml vodka

Method:

Combine the melon liqueur, lemon juice and sugar and shake it. Add ice and shake the mixture well. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Top up the drink with vodka.

Red Hot Santa Tini
Crowne Plaza Today Gurgaon

Glass: Martini

Ingredients:

30ml vodka l30ml chocolate liqueur l1 tsp castor sugar l1 tsp cocoa powder (for the rim of the glass) l1 tsp paprika (for the rim of the glass) l1 tbs sweetened whipped cream (for garnish)l1 whole red chilli (for garnish)

Method:

Mix some cocoa powder together with a pinch of paprika and coat the rim of a chilled martini glass with it. Shake the vodka with the chocolate liqueur and pour the double strained mixture into the glass. Top it off with the whipped cream and garnish by floating the red chilli that’s been coated with castor sugar.