7 Easy Christmas Cocktails for an Australian Summer
Christmas lunch is on the table, someone’s claimed the shady seat and the ice bucket is getting a workout. Time for a drink that suits the occasion.
These easy Christmas cocktails lean into citrus, bubbles and tropical flavours. Each recipe makes one drink, so you can choose a favourite without committing to a whole jug. Chill the ingredients first, keep plenty of ice handy and add the garnish just before serving.
1. Cranberry Christmas spritz
Bright, bubbly and a lovely match for a Christmas drinks tray.
Glass: 350 ml tall glass or wine glass.
You’ll need
- 60 ml cranberry juice drink
- 90 ml prosecco
- 30 ml soda water
- Ice
- 1 dehydrated orange wheel
Make it
Fill a large wine glass with ice. Add the cranberry juice, gently pour in the prosecco and soda, then stir once. Rest the orange wheel against the ice.
Choose cranberry juice with a sweetness you enjoy. A very tart juice will give a different result from a sweetened cranberry drink.
2. Christmas margarita
A simple margarita with a festive finish. Let the mix do the balancing and keep your garnish ready to go.
Glass: 250 ml rocks glass.
You’ll need
- 30 ml tequila
- 90 ml Craft Margarita Mix
- Ice
- Blood Orange Citrus Salt, for an optional half-rim
- 1 dehydrated lime wheel
Make it
Moisten the outside edge of half the glass with a little mix and gently press into the salt. Fill with ice, add the tequila and mix, and stir well. Finish with lime. Check your bottle’s current mixing directions before pouring.
3. Pineapple Christmas cooler
For the person who would happily spend Christmas under a beach umbrella.
Glass: 350 ml tall glass or wine glass.
You’ll need
- 30 ml white rum
- 90 ml pineapple juice
- 15 ml fresh lemon juice
- 30 ml soda water
- Ice
- 1 dehydrated lime wheel
Make it
Stir the rum, pineapple juice and lemon juice in an ice-filled tall glass. Add soda, give it a gentle stir and tuck the lime wheel beside the ice.
4. Orange and rosemary gin cooler
A little green, a little gold and plenty of citrus.
Glass: 350 ml tall glass or wine glass.
You’ll need
- 30 ml gin
- 60 ml orange juice
- 15 ml fresh lemon juice
- 60 ml soda water
- Ice
- 1 dehydrated orange wheel
- 1 small washed culinary rosemary sprig
Make it
Add the gin and juices to a tall glass over ice. Top with soda and stir gently. Garnish with orange and rosemary, keeping the stem clear of the drinking edge.
5. Peach and lemon bubbles
An easy welcome drink when you’d rather be greeting guests than working a shaker.
Glass: 200 ml wine glass.
You’ll need
- 45 ml peach nectar
- 90 ml chilled prosecco
- 1 dehydrated lemon wheel
Make it
Pour the peach nectar into a chilled wine glass. Slowly add the prosecco and gently stir. Add the lemon wheel just before handing it over. Pour slowly to give the foam room to settle.
6. Cranberry and ginger vodka cooler
Cranberry brings the colour; ginger brings a little bite.
Glass: 350 ml tall glass or wine glass.
You’ll need
- 30 ml vodka
- 60 ml cranberry juice drink
- 90 ml ginger ale
- Ice
- 1 dehydrated orange wheel
Make it
Fill a tall glass with ice, pour in the vodka and cranberry juice, then add ginger ale. Stir gently and garnish with orange. Browse our soda and mixers when planning your drinks shop.
7. Citrus Christmas cooler
Make one glass, or use the four-serve jug quantities below when you’re sharing.
Glass: 350 ml tall glass or wine glass.
You’ll need
- 30 ml gin
- 60 ml orange juice
- 30 ml cranberry juice drink
- 60 ml soda water
- Ice
- 1 dehydrated lemon wheel
Make it
Stir the gin and juices over ice, top with soda and finish with lemon.
For a jug serving four
Combine 120 ml gin, 240 ml orange juice and 120 ml cranberry juice in a jug and refrigerate. Divide the 480 ml base evenly between four ice-filled glasses, giving each glass 120 ml of base. Add 60 ml soda to each glass, using 240 ml soda in total. Finish each with a dehydrated lemon wheel. Each glass contains 180 ml of liquid before ice melt.
A few things to prep
Pick two recipes with shared ingredients, chill the mixers and put the garnishes in small dishes just before guests arrive. Keep unopened supplies sealed and follow the storage directions on each pack.
For more warm-weather inspiration, explore our summer cocktails for outdoor gatherings.
Set out water and an alcohol-free option alongside the cocktails, then let everyone choose their own Christmas sip.
Shop dehydrated citrus garnishes for the finishing touches, and enjoy your Christmas drinks responsibly.