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Holidays in the South: 33 Must-Try Cocktails

Festive concoctions to help make your season a little more jolly

November 21, 2017
Updated December 8, 2023

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SON OF A NUTCRACKER An Elf-inspired creation from the holiday menu at Alabama’s Session Cocktails. Get the recipe

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SON OF A NUTCRACKER

An Elf-inspired creation from the holiday menu at Alabama’s Session Cocktails.

Get the recipe

Photo: Niki Beck

MULLED WINE SYLLABUBS A Virginia entertaining guru reimagines an old English classic sipper that tastes like “Christmas in a glass.”  Get the recipe

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MULLED WINE SYLLABUBS

A Virginia entertaining guru reimagines an old English classic sipper that tastes like “Christmas in a glass.” 

Get the recipe

Photo: Patricia Lyons

CHRIS HANNAH’S YULE THYME SLING AND HARVEST STINGER Two holiday cocktails—one sweet, one sour—from a lauded New Orleans mixologist. Get the recipe

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CHRIS HANNAH’S YULE THYME SLING AND HARVEST STINGER

Two holiday cocktails—one sweet, one sour—from a lauded New Orleans mixologist.

Get the recipe

Photo: JOSH BRASTED

THE CLAUSMOPOLITAN: A COSMO WITH A FESTIVE UPGRADE An unexpected holiday ingredient elevates this sweet-and-tart spin on a classic cranberry cocktail. Get the recipe

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THE CLAUSMOPOLITAN: A COSMO WITH A FESTIVE UPGRADE

An unexpected holiday ingredient elevates this sweet-and-tart spin on a classic cranberry cocktail.

Get the recipe

Photo: KATIE MCCOOL

A GRINCH-INSPIRED COCKTAIL MORE NICE THAN NAUGHTY The playful Help Me…I’m Feeling is brimming with nostalgic Christmas spirit. Get the recipe

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A GRINCH-INSPIRED COCKTAIL MORE NICE THAN NAUGHTY

The playful Help Me…I’m Feeling is brimming with nostalgic Christmas spirit.

Get the recipe

Photo: COURTESY OF L.A. JACKSON

UNION JACK ROSE Gin and apple brandy hit it off in this warming New Orleans spirit. Get the recipe

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UNION JACK ROSE

Gin and apple brandy hit it off in this warming New Orleans spirit.

Get the recipe

Photo: Johnny Autry

JUNGLE WITCH: WINTER IN THE TROPICS A summery holiday is just a sip away. Get the recipe

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JUNGLE WITCH: WINTER IN THE TROPICS

A summery holiday is just a sip away.

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Photo: Johnny Autry

QUOIT CLUB PUNCH This blend of brandy, rum, and Madeira really packs a wallop. Get the recipe

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QUOIT CLUB PUNCH

This blend of brandy, rum, and Madeira really packs a wallop.

Get the recipe

Photo: JOHNNY AUTRY | FOOD STYLING BY CHARLOTTE AUTRY

BREAKFAST AT GEORGE’S Morning, meet happy hour in this espresso and bourbon drink. Get the recipe

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BREAKFAST AT GEORGE’S

Morning, meet happy hour in this espresso and bourbon drink.

Get the recipe

Photo: Johnny Autry

HOLIDAY WHISKEY PUNCH The big-batch solution to making crowd-pleasing cocktails. > Get the recipe

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HOLIDAY WHISKEY PUNCH

The big-batch solution to making crowd-pleasing cocktails.

> Get the recipe

Photo: TARA DONNE

HOLIDAY MILK PUNCH A New Orleans mainstay, milk punch is the South’s answer to eggnog. > Get the recipe

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HOLIDAY MILK PUNCH

A New Orleans mainstay, milk punch is the South’s answer to eggnog.

> Get the recipe

Photo: Johnny Autry

SATSUMA PUNCH One bowl, three centuries of New Orleans tradition. > Get the recipe

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SATSUMA PUNCH

One bowl, three centuries of New Orleans tradition.

> Get the recipe

Photo: JOHNNY AUTRY

CHAMPAGNE PUNCH Bubbly enlivens a refreshing post-prohibition mix. > Get the recipe

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CHAMPAGNE PUNCH

Bubbly enlivens a refreshing post-prohibition mix.

> Get the recipe

Photo: JOHNNY AUTRY

KNOCKOUT BOURBON PUNCH The potent punch recipe from our October/November 2014 cover. > Get the recipe

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KNOCKOUT BOURBON PUNCH

The potent punch recipe from our October/November 2014 cover.

> Get the recipe

Photo: JENNIFER CAUSEY

PINEAPPLE MEZCAL COCKTAIL Set the punch bowl aside and serve up your very own cask-aged cocktails. > Get the recipe

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PINEAPPLE MEZCAL COCKTAIL

Set the punch bowl aside and serve up your very own cask-aged cocktails.

> Get the recipe

Photo: JOHNNY AUTRY

HOT TODDY: HONEY BUNNY Smooth and embracing, a good toddy is hard to resist. > Get the recipe

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HOT TODDY: HONEY BUNNY

Smooth and embracing, a good toddy is hard to resist.

> Get the recipe

Photo: SQUIRE FOX

A JAZZED-UP HOT TODDY The Listening Room in Nashville has a drink to warm up Music City. > Get the recipe

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A JAZZED-UP HOT TODDY

The Listening Room in Nashville has a drink to warm up Music City.

> Get the recipe

Photo: COURTESY OF THE LISTENING ROOM

HOT APPLE TODDY The cozy cure-all cocktail gets an apple twist. > Get the recipe

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HOT APPLE TODDY

The cozy cure-all cocktail gets an apple twist.

> Get the recipe

Photo: BRENNAN WESLEY

MULLED WINE This easy-to-make, hot drink will bring the festive spirit right into your kitchen. > Get the recipe

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MULLED WINE

This easy-to-make, hot drink will bring the festive spirit right into your kitchen.

> Get the recipe

Photo: Gabriela Gomez-Misserian

BAYOU HORCHATA A bayou-inspired wintry cocktail to snuggle up to. > Get the recipe

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BAYOU HORCHATA

A bayou-inspired wintry cocktail to snuggle up to.

> Get the recipe

Photo: JULIE SOEFER

BOURBON-SPIKED SPICED HOT CHOCOLATE A sweet recipe to combat the cold, wintry nights. > Get the recipe

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BOURBON-SPIKED SPICED HOT CHOCOLATE

A sweet recipe to combat the cold, wintry nights.

> Get the recipe

Photo: BRENNAN WESLEY

AN ALL-ARKANSAS COFFEE COCKTAIL Rock Town Distillery lets the Natural State shine in this winter pick-me-up. > Get the recipe

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AN ALL-ARKANSAS COFFEE COCKTAIL

Rock Town Distillery lets the Natural State shine in this winter pick-me-up.

> Get the recipe

Photo: JACQUELINE STOFSICK

JOY WAGON: A SPARKLING HOLIDAY COCKTAIL A delightful alternative to a traditional flute of bubbly. > Get the recipe

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JOY WAGON: A SPARKLING HOLIDAY COCKTAIL

A delightful alternative to a traditional flute of bubbly.

> Get the recipe

Photo: JASON HORN

THE CHRISTMAS VACATION From the Garden & Gun Club in Atlanta, a holiday sipper that tastes like a tropical getaway.  > Get the recipe

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THE CHRISTMAS VACATION

From the Garden & Gun Club in Atlanta, a holiday sipper that tastes like a tropical getaway. 

> Get the recipe

Photo: COREY NEWTON

NANTUCKET SLEIGH RIDE Spices of the season, apricot brandy, rum, and citrus make this wintry grog a holiday on ice. > Get the recipe

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NANTUCKET SLEIGH RIDE

Spices of the season, apricot brandy, rum, and citrus make this wintry grog a holiday on ice.

> Get the recipe

Photo: COURTESY OF LATITUDE 29

CHRISTMAS IN HOLLIS Looking for something to take the edge off the in-laws’ impending visit? This concoction from T. Cole Newton of Twelve Mile Limit should do the trick. > Get the recipe

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CHRISTMAS IN HOLLIS

Looking for something to take the edge off the in-laws’ impending visit? This concoction from T. Cole Newton of Twelve Mile Limit should do the trick.

> Get the recipe

SIR ISAAC NEWTON A perfect cold weather cocktail from Jeremy Wingle of Poole’s Downtown Diner in Raleigh, North Carolina. > Get the recipe

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SIR ISAAC NEWTON

A perfect cold weather cocktail from Jeremy Wingle of Poole’s Downtown Diner in Raleigh, North Carolina.

> Get the recipe

Photo: JOHNNY AUTRY

A CAJUN-SPIKED SPIN ON CHRISTMAS EGGNOG Lafayette native and former One Flew South bartender Tiffanie Barriere shares her eggnog recipe that captures the spirit of the holidays in Louisiana with one sip. > Get the recipe

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A CAJUN-SPIKED SPIN ON CHRISTMAS EGGNOG

Lafayette native and former One Flew South bartender Tiffanie Barriere shares her eggnog recipe that captures the spirit of the holidays in Louisiana with one sip.

> Get the recipe

Photo: JEFF MOORE/GREEN OLIVE MEDIA

Eudora's handwritten recipe for eggnog.

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EUDORA WELTY’S CHRISTMAS EGGNOG

A family eggnog recipe from Mississippi’s first lady of letters, Eudora Welty.

> Get the recipe

ISLAND EGGNOG Rum and coconut come together in a Puerto Rican coquito. > Get the recipe

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ISLAND EGGNOG

Rum and coconut come together in a Puerto Rican coquito.

> Get the recipe

Photo: JOHNNY AUTRY

THE COMMANDER’S PALACE BLOODY MARY No gathering is complete without a Bloody Mary—so why not make it a good one? > Get the recipe

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THE COMMANDER’S PALACE BLOODY MARY

No gathering is complete without a Bloody Mary—so why not make it a good one?

> Get the recipe

Photo: ERIC MEDSKER, COURTESY OF TEN SPEED PRESS

A SMOKIN’ GOOD BLOODY MARY Because you can’t have too much of a good thing, here’s another Bloody Mary recipe from Atlanta bartender Nate Shuman that’s a step above your typical morning-after libation. > Get the recipe

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A SMOKIN’ GOOD BLOODY MARY

Because you can’t have too much of a good thing, here’s another Bloody Mary recipe from Atlanta bartender Nate Shuman that’s a step above your typical morning-after libation.

> Get the recipe

Photo: PETER FRANK EDWARDS

BLOODY GOOD HOLIDAY PUNCH A Bloody Bull is an even richer spin on a Bloody Mary. Make it batch-style, like one G&G writer’s family, and prepare to bowl over your party guests. > Get the recipe

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BLOODY GOOD HOLIDAY PUNCH

A Bloody Bull is an even richer spin on a Bloody Mary. Make it batch-style, like one G&G writer’s family, and prepare to bowl over your party guests.

> Get the recipe

Photo: JACQUELINE STOFSICK

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