It’s that time again – my favorite list of the year – London’s hippest Christmas Cocktails!
Christmas Cocktails are on the menu in London for such a short time.
I hope this guide helps you navigate the Big Smoke and you get to try them all and more!
(There is one gorgeous alcohol-free cocktail on the list – so make sure to check that one out, if you are alcohol-free)
Bar + Block Aldgate’s new, limited-edition Winter Gin Bar – a hot gin pop-up in partnership with Sipsmith – is only from 30 November-2 December and 7-9 December…so hop to it! Enjoy some of Sipsmith’s hot range of cocktails, certain to warm your cockles. Offering a seasonal twist on the classic G&T, the Winter Gin Bar serves a few cocktails, but I loved the Hot Gin & Gingerbread, a deliciously warming biscuity tipple of Sipsmith gin and gingerbread syrup, garnished with a wedge of orange!
Bluebird Chelsea is getting three new heated wooden chalets on their courtyard this winter, while the space around them is transformed into a magical white wonderland as Narnia comes to the King’s Road. In addition, there are some great Christmas cocktails! Bluebird has partnered with Ketel One to create a few special seasonal serves. My favorite is The Aslan Roar with Ketel One, Ancho Reyes chilli liquor, lime and ginger ale, although it has ice, the chilli makes you all warm inside!
I have to admit this one intrigued me the most! For the festive season, Cantina Laredo are serving up a cracker with Brussel Sprout infused margaritas, all alongside their modern Mexican menu, set to transport guests to the heart and soul of Mexico. You have to try it for yourself!
To combat the cold OSLO Hackney has launched a new cocktail menu brimming with seasonal spices and fruity twists. Guests can wile away the cold evenings with the Winter Spritz, consisting of Tanqueray Gin, Italicus & Prosecco and combining the comforts of gingerbread syrup with the fresh zing of grapefruit.
This Christmas, join the flatmates at The Little Blue Door for the ultimate festive feasts throughout December. This season the flatmates are going all out with a whole month of cocktail specials, including the Mince Pie Martini served with mini mince pies, perfect for toasting the festive season with family, friends and, of course, flatmates.
Experimental Group is bringing the kitsch Christmas pop-up phenomenon from the U.S. to London for the very first time, with Henrietta Hotel set to be the one and only Miracle location in the UK this year until 23rd December. Renowned across America for its creative cocktails garnished with a side of kitsch, Miracle brings together the best of retro Christmas decor, famous cocktails and festive cheer. The hit of the bunch is the Jingle Balls Nog – with Remy Martin 1738, Pedro Ximenez Sherry, Brown Butter, Cinnamon, Cherry, Vanilla, Almond Milk, Cream, Sugar, Egg, and Nutmeg – you cannot go wrong.
Oriole is chirping away her Christmas song in Italian after sipping Cross the Alps to Rome, thanks to VII Hills Gin (by my friends and former guests, Danilo Tersigni and Filippo Previero) Their XMAS cocktail warms the insides with VII Hill’s Gin, of course, Amaro Montenegro, Electric Liqueur, Guava and Elderberry Coulis, Fresh Tart Apple, Mandarin Juice and Cardamon Leaves. You’ll be speaking Italian by the end of the night.
I told you that you would be speaking Italian. More Italian mixology maestros at Quaglino’s bar (Marco Sangion and Federico Pasian) have created this gorgeous Christmas cocktail for the festive season. Classic, creamy and comforting, Bianco Natale! consists of Cointreau, Cacao white, yellow Chartreuse, lemon juice, egg white, chocolate bitters with a dark chocolate garnish.
Entering Swift is like coming home. Mia, the owner, is soon to be the first guest of Lush Life Podcast’s third series! I certainly know that in their hands a combination of Hennessy Fine, plus a little Maker’s Mark, Grand Marnier, LBV Port, Malbec, Chestnut and Mandarin will make the Harvest Bishop the most luxurious of Christmas cocktails!
The chic London jazz club, Nightjar, is celebrating the hols with a Scottish Hot Toddy. I’ve been up to Glenmorangie House and it is gorgeous, but a bit nippy! So what’s better than anything made with Hot Buttered Glenmorangie Whisky? Add in Roots Rakomelo, 30et40 Aperitif de Normandie, Fresh Lemon juice, and Caramel Rooibos tea and you won’t need undies under that kilt!
I decided to stay in Scotland for awhile and bring you another one from up north. The Balmoral, Edinburgh, has partnered with Scotland’s most iconic jewellery house, Hamilton & Inches this Christmas. Creating a limited-edition Balmoral cocktail, the Scottish Gold cocktail made with Chase Marmalade, Grand Marnier, D.O.M. Bénédictine and Prosecco is five-star luxury!
Concocted especially for the Christmas season at Café Forty One, this festive mocktail is packed with citrus fruits to bring a burst of sunshine to your taste buds. The Blood Orange, Lemon and Elderflower Mocktail consists of in season and freshly squeezed blood oranges, elderflower cordial and fresh lemon juice. In addition to adding a vibrant pop of colour to the mocktail, blood oranges are well known for being rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C and packed with antioxidants and can help fight away the winter blues.
LUSH LIFE CHRISTMAS COCKTAILS
- Bar + Block Aldgate, 66 Alie St, Whitechapel, London E1 8PX
- Bluebird Chelsea, 350 King’s Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 5UU
- Cantina Laredo, 10 Upper St Martin’s Ln, London WC2H 9FB
- OSLO Hackney, 1A Amhurst Rd, London E8 1LL
- The Little Blue Door, 871-873, Fulham Rd, Fulham, London SW6 5HP
- Henrietta Hotel, 14–15 Henrietta Street, London, WC2E 8QH
- Oriole, E Poultry Ave, London EC1A 9LH
- Quaglino’s, 16 Bury St, St. James’s, London SW1Y 6AJ
- Swift, 12 Old Compton St, Soho, London W1D 4TQ
- Nightjar, 129 City Rd, Hoxton, London EC1V 1JB
- The Balmoral, 1 Princes St, Edinburgh EH2 2EQ
- Café Forty-One at LA Suite West, 41-51 Inverness Terrace, London W2 3JN