10 festive cocktails for your student Christmas party

The Christmas songs are playing, there’s a chill in air and you may even have Home Alone in the background. Whether you're heading home for the festive period or planning a party at your student accommodation, we have some cracking Christmas cocktails for you to try.

And don’t worry: you don’t need to be a professional mixologist to make these tipples – each recipe is specially selected with students in mind. So, grab a cocktail glass and let’s dive in!

Easy Christmas cocktails for students

Shaken or stirred? Whether you’re looking for a hot cocktail, sweet spritz or fancy trying something new, our selection of Christmas cocktail recipes will get you in the holiday mood.

Espresso martini

Do you have that one friend who’s always carrying a coffee around campus? Or maybe it’s you? This cocktail is for them! 

For the perfect espresso martini, just add espresso, vanilla vodka, coffee liqueur, chocolate syrup and ice to your cocktail shaker and combine to kick off the festivities.

Mulled wine

Even those without a palate for red wine can appreciate this warmed, subtly spiced iteration. And if you don’t feel like making mulled wine from scratch, you can always buy a ready-made bottle from your local supermarket and warm it up yourself.

Shop brought or boiled in the pan, this zesty and fragrant concoction still counts as a Christmas cocktail and will your lift everyone’s spirits on a chilly winter evening. Get a pot simmering away for your student Christmas party!

Baubleini

No, it’s not quite served in a bauble – but you can add edible glitter to make this cocktail glisten like Christmas lights.

This one is super simple to make; just mix together rum and cranberry juice and top with prosecco for a little festive fizz.

Gingerbread gin

Who doesn’t love gingerbread? For this festively flavoured Christmas cocktail, pick up some gingerbread-flavoured gin and separate egg whites.

Then, simply place these, along with ice, into your cocktail shaker and serve chilled. Why not add some gingerbread biscuits to serve on the side?

Baileys

This might be the easiest Christmas cocktail of them all (and maybe the tastiest, too) – just add ice cubes and Irish cream to a glass and voilà!

Whether it’s the original Irish cream or a cheap derivative that usually appears on supermarket shelves around Christmas, either will do the job.

Snowball

Of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas without a snowball. This tipple incorporates Advocaat – a thick, creamy liqueur – for a rich texture that’s best enjoyed with a spoon rather than sipping.

This is balanced with the zesty lime juice and lemonade for a refreshing flavour. To complete the cocktail, garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Christmas punch

The only cocktail you need if you’re planning a Christmas party at your student digs! Grab a large glass bowl and throw in mixed juice, ginger ale and fresh orange slices.

For the alcoholic component, you can use prosecco or champagne, adding to you and your guests’ desired strength. Serve in mini tumbler or glass jar jugs with festive straws.

Peppermint mojito

A festive twist on the much-loved classic, this cocktail incorporates the refreshing flavour of peppermint and is the perfect change of pace for mojito lovers over Christmas.

You’ll still need the usual rum, sparkling soda, ice and lime – just add peppermint syrup to replace the mint. Complete the cocktail by adding a stick of candy cane to the glass!

Mocktails

Not everyone likes to drink at Christmas, or they may be the designated driver. Luckily, the cocktails listed above can still be enjoyed without the alcohol.

For instance, swap out the red wine for a non-alcoholic red wine and enjoy the same fragrant mulled wine. For an espresso martini mocktail, simply drop the vodka and coffee liqueur.

Eggnog

Last by no means least, we have arguably the most quintessential Christmas cocktail: eggnog. This one requires a little more effort but is certainly worth it.

Start by whisking egg yolks and sugar until creamy. Then, heat milk with cinnamon and cloves, mix this into the eggs, and bourbon or rum and allow to cool before serving. 

Happy holidays!

With these festive cocktails in your arsenal, you’ll be well on your way to the ultimate student Christmas party. Try not to go overboard, though, otherwise there may be some sore heads the next day!

Heading out for drinks over the festive period? Check out some of our other blogs where we have guides to some of the best student bars in London, as well as other major UK cities.