Get in the festive mood with Christmas spirits, tipsy coffees, and other merry refreshments

There are plenty of non-alcoholic drinks the whole family can enjoy at Christmas. Hot chocolate, mocktails, and fruit punch are delightful for grown-ups and little ones alike. But if you fancy something a little stronger, here are a few tipsy festive drinks to get you in a merry mood!

As always, remember to drink responsibly to get the most out of this wonderful time of year.

Toast the morning with Buck’s Fizz

In many households, it’s traditional to celebrate Christmas morning with a toast. Buck’s Fizz unites Champagne with zesty orange juice to create a British brunch classic, similar to a mimosa. The addition of freshly squeezed orange juice makes this cocktail a little less potent than going for straight champers. For lots of people, this festive drink is synonymous with Christmas itself!

Of course, if breakfast is a little early for you to have a tipple, Buck’s Fizz is great for sipping with your dinner, too.

While Buck’s Fizz traditionally combines orange juice with Champagne, you could also use Prosecco for a similar refreshing effect. Simply pour 50ml of orange juice and top with 100ml of chilled Prosecco.

Our boutique Prosecco from the Dolomite foothills offers beautiful fruity notes and a delicate floral hint that we believe adds an extra special touch to Buck’s Fizz.

Mull your own wine

Is there anything that evokes the festive atmosphere more than aromatic mulling spices? Not only do mulled drinks smell heavenly, but they’re also a delicious way to keep warm in the depths of winter.

You can buy ready-prepared mulled wine or cider (along with alcohol-free mulled punch). But there’s nothing quite like simmering fresh spices in a big pan and letting the fragrance permeate your home.

Another benefit of mulling your own festive drinks is that you can get the perfect balance of flavours to suit your tastes. You can keep sugar levels low and add as much cinnamon, nutmeg or star anise as you fancy. Follow the steps below as a starting point, then adapt the recipe to suit your personal preferences. (It’s a great excuse to taste as you go!)

When it comes to mulling wine, some people suggest that any old bottle will do as you’ll be masking the flavour with other ingredients. However, we think that going for a good quality red will ensure you get richness and depth of flavour. The spices and sugar should enhance the nuanced wine notes rather than diminishing them.

Our Vintage Red Wine has a complex flavour profile and level of spiciness that makes it ideal for mulling, as well as sipping and savouring.

How to make mulled wine

• Pour a 750ml bottle of red wine into a large pan.

• Add a large cinnamon stick, two whole star anise, and a sprinkle of cloves.

• Use a vegetable peeler to create two or three strips of lemon zest and add this to the pan, along with 3 tbsp of sugar. You can also use a squeeze of maple syrup if you prefer.

• Simmer the mixture on a low heat for ten minutes. Be careful not to let the temperature rise too much — this might boil off the alcohol!

• As the wine heats, give it a taste to see if it’s sweet enough. You can always add another tablespoon of sugar if it’s too tart.

• Take the wine off the heat and let the ingredients infuse for another half an hour.

• When you’re ready to drink your mulled wine, heat it through again (but don’t boil), and serve in mugs or heatproof glasses.

Mull your own cider

If wine isn’t your tipple of choice, you can always go for mulled cider. Following the same principle, you just need to simmer up some still cider in a pan with a variety of festive spices.

Try heating a litre of still cider with 250ml of apple juice. Add a handful of cloves, four cinnamon sticks, and a sliced orange.

As you simmer the mixture for ten minutes, stir in some sugar or honey to taste. For an extra kick, once the cider is off the heat, pour in a generous glug of apple brandy or sloe gin.

Whip up a velvety eggnog

Eggnog is another of our favourite festive drinks. This creamy punch blends milk, egg yolk, cream liqueur and a dash of rum.

It’s a hearty Christmas treat. Whipping one up in the Velvetiser, however, adds an extra touch of indulgence.

Our best-loved Eggnog recipe is one we serve in our Rabot 1745 restaurant in London. You’ll need:

• 50ml Velvetised Chocolate Cream

• 220ml milk

• 35ml golden rum

• 20g caster sugar

• One egg yolk

• Ground cinnamon

For the smoothest, most opulent texture, add your milk, egg yolk and sugar to the Velvetiser, pop the lid on, and push the button. While the innovative machine works its magic, pour the rum and Velvetised Chocolate Cream into a mug if you want the drink warm. Alternatively, add it to a glass filled with ice for a cold version.

Then pour the velvetised milk, yolk and sugar into the mixture. Whether you go for hot or cold eggnog, top it with a sprinkle of cinnamon, sip, and enjoy.

Unwind with an Irish coffee

For the ultimate post-dinner digestif, look no further than an Irish coffee. The combination of rich black coffee and malty Irish whiskey, topped with decadent double cream is at once both soothing and uplifting.

For a traditional Irish coffee, brew a cup of strong black coffee. We recommend our Rocket blend, which offers subtle tones of leather and tobacco. Or, for a more mellow flavour, why not try our Cashmere variety?

While your coffee is brewing, lightly whip two tablespoons of double cream.

Pour your coffee into a mug or heat-proof glass. (A glass allows you to see the lovely layers).

Add a double measure (50ml) of Irish whiskey, and stir in sugar to taste.

Use a spoon to layer the double cream on top of the drink and sprinkle a pinch of ground nutmeg over it.

Add a Hotel Chocolat twist

Alternatively, you can give your coffee a delightful cacao spin with our Velvetised Chocolate Creams. This is a quick and easy way to produce delicious festive drinks. All you need to do is brew a cup of your favourite Rabot Estate coffee blend and add a generous glug of Chocolate Cream.

Our original Velvetised Chocolate Cream brings together vodka, chocolate, and cream for a warming alcoholic drink brimming with nuanced cacao notes. However, for a zesty and subtly sweet Christmas flavour, you might like to try adding 50ml of our Salted Caramel and Clementine Velvetised Chocolate Cream to your coffee.

And if you’d prefer a warming drink with a lower caffeine content, our Velvetised Chocolate Creams make a lovely addition to our wintery hot chocolate varieties. Try Black Forest Gateau, Orange Supermilk or a cosy Mince Pie Hot Chocolate for the ultimate in festive drinks.

If you’d like some more ideas on tipsy beverages, feel free to take a look at our guide on making delicious alcoholic chocolate drinks.

You can also pair your festive drinks with our truffles, caramels, pralines and filled chocolates for an extra treat this Christmas.