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Christmas Cocktails NZ: Four Easy Drinks for a Summer Christmas
Four Christmas drinks for a hot New Zealand summer with exact measures: a cranberry spritz, homemade eggnog, a Baileys iced coffee and a gin and cranberry jug.
The best Christmas cocktails for New Zealand are cold and easy: a cranberry spritz, a gin and cranberry jug, a Baileys iced coffee, and homemade eggnog for anyone who wants a creamy classic. Christmas lands in the middle of summer here, so ice does most of the work.
Each recipe below gives exact measures for one serve or a set number, and the bottle we would use. Pour sensibly: one drink at a time, and offer a non-alcoholic option too.
How do you make a Christmas spritz?
One serve. Bitter orange and cranberry, topped with prosecco.
- Fill a large wine glass to the top with ice.
- Pour in the Aperol and the cranberry juice.
- Add the prosecco, then the soda water, and stir once, gently.
- Slap the rosemary against your hand to release the scent and tuck it into the glass.
Aperol Aperitivo
An Italian bitter orange aperitif.
Keep the prosecco in the fridge so the spritz stays cold.
- Style
- Aperitivo
- Try it with
- Prosecco and soda
- Per nip
- About $1.30
How do you make homemade eggnog?
Makes four small glasses. Make it the day before and serve it very cold.
- Whisk the egg yolks and sugar in a bowl until pale and thick.
- Heat the milk and cream in a pot until steaming, but not boiling.
- Pour the hot milk slowly into the yolks while whisking, then tip everything back into the pot.
- Stir over low heat for a few minutes until it coats the back of a spoon, about 71C if you use a thermometer. Do not let it boil.
- Off the heat, stir in the brandy. Cool, then chill for at least four hours.
- Serve cold in small glasses with nutmeg on top.
De Valcourt VSOP
A smooth French style brandy.
Dried fruit and vanilla suit the cream and nutmeg. We do not stock ready-made eggnog, so this is the one you make yourself.
- Style
- VSOP brandy
- Taste
- Dried fruit, vanilla
How do you make a Baileys iced coffee?
One serve. Cold, creamy and a little like dessert.
- Fill a tall glass with ice.
- Pour in the cooled coffee and the milk.
- Add the Baileys and stir.
- For a frozen version, freeze the coffee in an ice cube tray, then blend the cubes with the Baileys and milk until thick.
Baileys 1L
Irish whiskey, cream and cocoa.
Creamy caramel and vanilla with a smooth finish. It is also good poured over ice cream.
- Style
- Irish cream liqueur
- Try it with
- Cold coffee and ice
- Per nip
- About $1.51
How do you make a gin and cranberry jug?
One jug, about eight glasses.
- Fill a large jug a third full with ice and add the orange slices.
- Pour in the gin, cranberry juice and lime juice and stir well.
- Top with the soda water just before serving so it stays fizzy.
- Pour into glasses over fresh ice.
Curious Garden Dry Gin
A classic dry gin that mixes easily.
Fresh juniper and herbal notes with a crisp finish. In a jug, the cranberry and lime carry the flavour.
- Style
- Dry gin
- Try it with
- Cranberry, lime and soda
- Per nip
- About $1.96
How do you host Christmas drinks without stress?
Do the work before the guests arrive.
- Batch aheadMix the gin jug without the soda and chill it. Add the soda when you serve. Make the eggnog the day before.
- Use plenty of iceAllow about half a kilo per guest. A full glass stays colder for longer.
- Offer a non-alcoholic optionCranberry, soda and lime over ice with rosemary is a good spritz without the Aperol and prosecco. Serve water too.
- Pace itSmall glasses, food on the table and no top-ups without asking keep the day enjoyable.
What do you need for the spritz and the jug?
Three things to have in the fridge.
The Christmas Box
Limited edition, November and December.
Bringing a gift instead of cooking? Choose your bottle and we wrap it, box it and deliver it NZ wide.
- In the box
- A chocolate, a sweet treat and a savoury
- Also
- Candy canes, Christmas tag, red ribbon
Quick answers
How long does homemade eggnog keep?
Keep it covered in the fridge and drink it within two days. If it smells or tastes off, throw it out.
What do people drink at Christmas in New Zealand?
Cold, light drinks such as spritzes, gin and soda, beer and rosé. Many add one creamy classic like eggnog.
Is this eggnog made with raw eggs?
No. The yolks are cooked gently in the hot milk and cream, so the custard is heated before you chill it.
Can I use rum instead of brandy in eggnog?
Yes. Dark rum gives a warmer, sweeter flavour. Use the same 90ml.
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