There is something about this time of year when the temperatures start to drop that have me reaching for bourbon cocktails to warm up.  And last year we dicosvered our love of a bourbon champagne cocktail as a nice change from the typical champagne cocktail recipes we had been making.  

These bourbon champagne cocktails are so fun and different and can be made ahead of time, so it’s very little work during your holiday celebrations.  

Best Holiday Cocktails

We love creating easy and good cocktails with festive flavors for any holiday party or get togethers.  All of these recipes follow the same very simple format.  So if you find yourself in the tea aisle of the grocery and see a flavor that sounds like it’ll make a fun drink, grab it and follow this simple formula.

To make the bourbon tea:

  • Take your favorite bourbon.  We have used everything from Woodford Reserve to Kennay Farms Distillery to Larceny Small batch.  And here’s the thing, you don’t need the most expensive bottle, but you also don’t want the cheapest.  
  • Pour 8 oz into a small saucepan on medium heat.  (I did low heat because I have an electric stove and am still challenged on how to use it.). 
  • Add 2 tea bags.
  • Heat for 10 minutes.  You don’t want this to boil, just a nice simmer.
  • Transfer into a mason jar, attach the lid and place in the refrigerator to cool.  

TIPS:  

  • When we don’t want to make a big batch, we do 4 oz with 1 tea bag.
  • If I am making this 1 week ahead of time, I will put the mason jars in the freezer. Take them out about 30 minutes before guests arrive and they’ll be perfect.

Now that you have the bourbon creation made it’s time to assemble the perfect cocktail.  The ingredients stay the same, but you can have a lot of fun with the options.

  • SImple Syrup – we love to use flavored simple syrups like Root 23 to enhance the flavors with just one ingredient.  But you could use brown sugar, maple syrup and cinnamon sticks for example if you didn’t have any of maple cinnamon simple syrup on hand.
  • Lemon Juice – we used fresh lemon juice in all of these, but you know I always bottled lemon juice in the fridge just in case.
  • Sparkling wine – we typically use a brut champagne, sparkling wine, cava or prosecco for these.
  • Bitters are optional.  In the past we have added 2 dashes of orange bitters to the recipe.  I was looking for other flavors of bitters at the store, but didn’t see any that really excited me.  
  • Ginger Beer – we have tried these with regular non-alcoholic ginger beer (and the lite version too), alcoholic ginger beer and ginger mule sparkling water.  Any of these will work.  We decided to freeze the ginger beer into ice cubes to use this time around which is always fun and adds a festive touch.
  • Fresh Fruit – we added apples, lemon peels and cranberries to the cocktails. Orange slices and orange peel would be good too if you like oranges.  (If you’ve been around a bit, you know I don’t like anything orange or orange flavored so selfishly, I rarely use it.  
  • Garnishes- I will admit my garnish game is not strong, but in the fall and winter, I find myself gravitating toward cinnamon sticks.  And I thought about using star anise and totally forgot, so I’ll just have to make these cocktails again.  Fresh rosemary is always fun when you’re creating Christmas cocktails.

The holiday season is nearly upon us, and these bourbon bubbly champagne cocktails are perfect for fall holiday parties, Thanksgiving, or as your after Christmas dinner drink.

Holiday Cocktail Recipes

Chai 

​I love a bubbly cocktail that can be easily turned into a bubbly mocktail for everyone to enjoy. 

  • 8 oz Bourbon
  • 2 Chai Tea Bags
  1. In a saucepan on low heat, pour in 8oz of bourbon with 2 tea bags. 
  2. Heat on low for 10 minutes.
  3. Take off heat and pour into a mason jar to cool in the refrigerator . 

To make the cocktail

  • 1 ½ -2oz Bourbon Tea 
  • ½ oz Root 23 Maple Cinnamon Simple Syrup
  • ½ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
  • 2-3 oz Ginger Beer (we used ginger beer ice cubes) 
  • Top with bubbly
  1. In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine bourbon tea, simple syrup and lemon juice.
  2. Shake well.
  3. Pour into your favorite champagne glass over ginger beer ice cubes.
  4. Top with bubbly and ginger beer (if you’re not using ginger beer ice cubes).

Chai Mocktail

  • 8 oz Apple Cider
  • 2 Chai Tea Bags
  1. In a saucepan on low heat, pour in 8oz of apple cider with 2 tea bags. 
  2. Heat on low for 10 minutes.
  3. Take off heat and pour into a mason jar to cool in the refrigerator . 

To make the mocktail

  • 2-3oz Apple Cider Tea 
  • ½ -1oz Root 23 Maple Cinnamon Simple Syrup
  • ½ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
  • 2-3 oz Ginger Beer (we used ginger beer ice cubes)
  • Top with ginger beer or sparkling cider*
  1. In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine bourbon tea, simple syrup and lemon juice.
  2. Shake well.
  3. Pour into your favorite glass over ginger beer ice cubes.
  4. Top with and ginger beer (if you’re not using ginger beer ice cubes) or sparkling cider.

*Both drinks were good, but the one topped with sparkling cider with cherry was the best in our opinion.  

Apple Cinnamon 

This is the perfect Halloween night, trick or treating cocktail.  Honestly, I would even leave the bourbon warm and let the bubbly and ginger beer cool it down.  It’s like my perfect version of a hot toddy.

  • 8 oz Bourbon
  • 2 Apple Cinnamon Tea Bags
  1. In a saucepan on low heat, pour in 8oz of bourbon with 2 tea bags. 
  2. Heat on low for 10 minutes.
  3. Take off heat and pour into a mason jar to cool in the refrigerator . 

To make the cocktail

  • 1 ½ -2oz Bourbon Tea 
  • ½ oz Root 23 Vanilla Ginger or Maple Cinnamon Simple Syrup*
  • ½ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
  • 2-3 oz Ginger Beer (we used ginger beer ice cubes)
  • Top with bubbly
  • Garnish with cinnamon sticks.
  1. In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine bourbon tea, simple syrup and lemon juice.
  2. Shake well.
  3. Pour into your favorite champagne glass over ginger beer ice cubes.
  4. Top with bubbly and ginger beer (if you’re not using ginger beer ice cubes).

*We enjoyed both bubbly cocktails, but we loved the vanilla ginger simple syrup the most.

Cranberry Spice 

For those who love cranberry juice and don’t want the extra sugar, this is a great alternative.  

  • 8 oz Bourbon
  • 2 Cranberry Tea Bags
  1. In a saucepan on low heat, pour in 8oz of bourbon with 2 tea bags. 
  2. Heat on low for 10 minutes.
  3. Take off heat and pour into a mason jar to cool in the refrigerator . 

To make the cocktail

  • 1 ½ -2oz Bourbon Tea 
  • ½ oz Root 23 Cranberry Apple Spice Simple Syrup
  • ½ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
  • 2-3 oz Ginger Beer (we used ginger beer ice cubes)
  • Top with bubbly
  • Garnish with fresh cranberries (or frozen cranberries)
  1. In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine bourbon tea, simple syrup and lemon juice.
  2. Shake well.
  3. Pour into your favorite champagne glass over ginger beer ice cubes.
  4. Top with bubbly and ginger beer (if you’re not using ginger beer ice cubes).

Gingerbread 

I am absolutely in the holiday spirit when gingerbread flavor comes to town!  

  • 8 oz Bourbon
  • 2 Gingerbread Tea Bags
  1. In a saucepan on low heat, pour in 8oz of bourbon with 2 tea bags. 
  2. Heat on low for 10 minutes.
  3. Take off heat and pour into a mason jar to cool in the refrigerator . 

To make the cocktail

  • 1 ½ -2oz Bourbon Tea 
  • ½ oz Root 23 Vanilla Ginger Simple Syrup
  • ½ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
  • 2-3 oz Ginger Beer (we used ginger beer ice cubes)
  • Top with bubbly
  1. In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine bourbon tea, simple syrup and lemon juice.
  2. Shake well.
  3. Pour into your favorite champagne glass over ginger beer ice cubes.
  4. Top with bubbly and ginger beer (if you’re not using ginger beer ice cubes).

Which festive sparkling cocktail will you be mixing up first?  

Want more?  

Check out Root 23 not only to purchase their simple syrups, but for other cocktail and mocktail inspiration. 

Are you looking for more holiday cocktail and mocktail ideas? Check out our previous creations on the blog.

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