There are several ways to spice up this holiday season and what better way than with some classic holiday cocktails. How to make holiday cocktails is a blend of old and new recipes to help make that mistletoe experience a little less awkward.

• It's that time of year again. The malls are packed, the elves are working overtime and eggnog and mulled cider are ever present at holiday parties. Although holiday-themed drinks are only present for one month out of the year, they can get a tad mundane. That is, unless you put a unique spin on those timeless classics. Let your holiday concoctions be the hit of the party, or simply spike your drink to survive the holidays with your family—either way, you can't lose!

• Disclaimer

Drinking holiday cocktails with alcohol will impair your ability to drive. Be careful this holiday season and drink responsibly.

Ahhhhh.....Perfect (Creative Commons Photo by Matt Stangis)

• So we all know about peppermint schnapps, eggnog, brandy, hot chocolate and all the other popular winter drinks. However, there are multitudes of other tasty concoctions you can make that Santa would approve of. If the fire is blazing and your tacky holiday sweater is too hot, try cooling yourself down with some of these recipes.

• Ingredients

• 2 cups orange juice

• 2/3 cup lemon juice

• 750 ml. light rum

• 1 oz. triple sec

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1 orange sliced into rounds

• 1 lemon sliced into rounds

• 1 liter soda water

• Directions

• In a punch bowl, combine sugar, orange and lemon juice and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add the orange and lemon slices and the alcohol if desired. Let sit for 1-2 hours and add the soda just before serving.

• Ingredients

• 1/2 oz. Grand Marnier, Cointreau or triple sec

• 3 oz. cranberry juice

• Champagne

• Directions

• Chill all of the ingredients. Combine the Grand Mariner/Cointreau/triple sec and cranberry juice into the chilled Champagne flute and stir. Top with Champagne.

• Ingredients

• 4 oz. eggnog

• 1/2 oz. white chocolate liqueur (Godiva or Mozart)

• 1 oz. Southern Comfort

• Edible gold or chocolate flakes

• Directions

• Combine the eggnog, white chocolate liqueur and Southern Comfort into a snifter. Garnish with the gold/chocolate flakes.

Minted hot chocolate (CC Photo by Clare Cridland)

• Unless you're living in Hawaii, odds are that you could use some warmth this holiday season. If the fire and the multiple layers of clothes you are wearing can't keep the chill out, try one of these delicious hot cocktails.

• Ingredients

• 1 oz. Kahlua coffee liqueur

• 5 oz. hot chocolate

• 1 tbsp whipped cream

• 1 tsp grated chocolate

• Directions

• Combine Kahlua and hot chocolate in an Irish coffee mug. Top with the whipped cream and sprinkle with grated chocolate.

• Ingredients

• 1 oz. cognac

• 1 oz. dark rum

• 1 cup hot tea

• 1/2 tsp. honey

• 1 cinnamon stick

• 3-5 cloves

• Pinch of nutmeg

• Directions

• Mix all the ingredients (except for the cinnamon stick) in a saucepan. Heat and pour into a mug. Add the cinnamon stick.

• Ingredients

• 1 cup apple cider

• 2 oz. gold rum or apple brandy

• 1 tsp. honey

• 2 cloves

• 1 cinnamon stick

• Pinch of allspice

• 1 lemon twist

• Directions

• Combine all the ingredients (except for the lemon twist) into a saucepan and heat. Once the mixture is thoroughly heated, strain into a mug. Garnish with the lemon twist.

• Ingredients

• 5 oz. hot chocolate

• 1 oz. peppermint schnapps

• Peppermint stick or candy cane

• Whipped cream

• Directions

• Combine the hot chocolate and the schnapps in an Irish coffee cup. Top with whipped cream and candy cane/peppermint stick.

• 

  Cooking the cider (CC Photo by Pete Barr-Watson)

• Makes 10 servings

• Ingredients

• 2 quarts apple cider

• 1/1/2 cups orange juice

• 3/4 cup pineapple juice

• 1 cup light rum

• 1 tbsp brown sugar

• 1/2 tsp lemon juice

• 2 cinnamon sticks

• 1 dash ground cloves

• Directions

• Combing all ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and cover for 20-30 minutes. Remove cinnamon sticks and serve in mugs.

• Makes 4 servings

• Ingredients

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter

• 4 oz. confectioners' sugar

• 1/4 pound brown sugar

• 8 tbsp. dark rum (4 oz.)

• 24 oz. boiling water

• Directions

• In a large mixing bowl, stir the butter and the sugars together until smooth. Scoop two tablespoons of the mixture into a tall glass along with 2 tablespoons of rum. Pour 6 ounces of boiling water on top of the rum and creamy mixture and stir until the mix is melted.

• Wikipedia: Grand Marnier

• Wikipedia: Cointreau

• Wikipedia: Triple sec

• Wikipedia: Southern Comfort

• Wikipedia: Creme de Cacao

• Wikipedia: Chai Tea

• Wikipedia: Kahlua

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