31 Whiskey Cocktails to Drink This Winter

Hot toddies are the quintessential winter cocktails, perfect for cold nights by the fire. Between the hot water and the whiskey, no chill stands a chance against the drink.

Bartenders have a lot of latitude with the recipe. However, the tweakable base is bourbon, honey, hot water, and lemon.

The sweet, powerful drink goes down easy. I always have to be careful with this one. 

Every bartender needs a good old-fashioned recipe in their arsenal. The winter old-fashioned gives the cocktail a holiday kick with the inclusion of spiced holiday simple syrup. 

Making the simple syrup takes the most time. Mixing the drink is quick and easy once you've made the spiced liquid. Each old-fashioned takes ten minutes to complete.

Cinnamon and maple flavors instantly lend a cocktail bright holiday taste. This drink recipe subs maple syrup for the conventional simple syrup to make a warming whiskey sour.

The cocktail couldn't be easier to make, needing only three ingredients: bourbon, lemon juice, and maple syrup.

Throw everything in a cocktail shaker, give it a mix, pour it over ice, and enjoy. 

I love hot chocolate. But sometimes I’m just in the mood for something more grown up. So I go for a Hot Chocolate Whiskey.

The only thing better than hot chocolate on a cold winter's evening is hot chocolate spiked with whiskey. 

This cocktail's recipe ups the adult ante by crafting a more sophisticated cocoa recipe than simply a packet and canned whipped cream.

While cocoa mix anchors the drink, Aztec chocolate bitters and Milano chocolate syrup lend a refined edge to the drink. 

The whiskey sage cocktail warms you from the inside with pleasant winter spices, then whacks you with citrus to remind you of those hot summer months.

The recipe is simple enough; however, you'll need to make sage simple syrup ahead of time.

Once you've made your sweetener, throw everything in a cocktail shaker, mix it well, and enjoy. 

If winter had a taste, it would be cranberry. The tart fruit adds a kick of holiday spirit to every recipe. 

The blizzard cranberry bourbon cocktail lets the fruit work its magic with whiskey. The tart edge balances bourbon's sharper flavors.

Paired with lemon and simple syrup, cranberry provides the perfect compliment to whiskey. 

Check out more cranberry cocktails if you like this one!

Apples transition between fall and winter with little difficulty. The fruit's combination of sweet and tart creates the perfect flavor profile for a cold evening.

The apple whiskey sour would be a great dessert substitution. The winter whiskey cocktail recipe uses apple cider and simple syrup, so it's pretty sweet.

The cocktail blends its ingredients with ice, making the finished product akin to a delicious, boozy slushie. 

Find other ways to use apple cider in your cocktails.

Toasted pecans aren't limited to pies. The legumes add a pleasant, warm, wintery pop to every recipe, from cookies to cocktails. 

This toasted pecan old-fashioned cocktail is a showstopper.

Bartenders need to roast the pecans and infuse the whiskey before mixing the drink, so plan ahead. The whiskey needs three to four days to soak up the nut flavor. 

A long winter nap allows you to channel your inner bear without hibernating.

The cocktail uses maple and winter spices to evoke the feeling of nestling under a big pile of blankets on a cozy evening.

The drink uses quite a bit of maple syrup, so being a sweet-tooth, I love this one. Star anise and ginger cut through some of the sugar, providing a spicy kick. 

Winter orange whiskey repurposes the classic summer citrus into a cold weather star. The cocktail uses egg whites to create a rich foam and is certain to turn heads.

The drink needs quite a few ingredients, but don't be overwhelmed. Egg whites aside, the cocktails come together quickly and easily. 

Fluffernutter sandwiches capture the taste of childhood. What could be better after a long day of sledding than a peanut butter and marshmallow treat? 

The fluffernutter peanut butter whiskey cocktail turns those cozy memories into the perfect winter mixed drink. 

Egg whites give the cocktail a creamy flavor and texture. The drink is sweet and delicious, a great winter evening dessert alternative. 

Being a fan of Negroni, I love this cousin to the classic mixed drink. The Boulevardier needs only three ingredients, and all of them are alcohol. 

The cocktail calls for whiskey, Campari, and sweet vermouth.

It's a powerful drink, designed for sipping both because of its mouth-pucker and high alcohol content, so enjoy it slowly and responsibly.

Gingerbread is the official flavor of the winter season, whether shaped into little cookie-men or infusing a cocktail. 

This gingerbread whiskey sour will be the belle of your holiday party, with its creamy egg whites and infused simple syrup.

Make the gingerbread simple syrup ahead of time by mixing winter spices with sugar and water. 

Hot buttered bourbon transports drinkers back to the days of wassailing and telling ghost stories around the fireplace. 

The cocktail warms you on two fronts; first through the heat of the liquid and then through the heat of the whiskey. 

Full of apple cider, bourbon, honey, butter, and holiday spices, the drink is the perfect drink to sip while watching the snowfall. 

We tend to associate fruit punch with summer and spring. However, this winter fruit whiskey smash turns the warm weather favorite into the perfect cold-temperature repast.

Simple syrup and orange provide the cocktail with plenty of sweetness.

Pomegranate and bourbon add tart pucker, rounding out the flavor profile. The drink mixes up quickly and easily, making it a perfect choice for your holiday parties. 

Winter honey whiskey provides a unique twist on the classic hot toddy recipe. A healthy dose of honey lends every sip a welcome sweetness, while ginger adds a little kick of heat.

The recipe is relatively simple, but it does require some heating and sieving.

Winter honey whiskey calls for propolis tincture, so you may have to stop at a specialty store before mixing the drink. 

The whiskey lush may have a slightly insulting name, but don't let that deter you from enjoying this sweet, spicy cocktail.

I usually prepare the spiced honey simple syrup ahead of time so I can whip up a batch of drinks whenever the spirit moves me.

Pineapple juice adds a burst of tropical sun for drinkers missing the summer sun. 

Are you throwing a holiday party? Thrill your guests with a batch of this winter bourbon punch.

The winter whiskey cocktail relies on raspberry jam and orange juice for a powerful dose of fruity sweetness.

Club soda classes the drink up, adding effervescent to the holiday punch.

The cocktail mixes up easily and quickly; just throw all the ingredients into a shaker, mix it up, and enjoy over ice. 

When I first heard of this drink I thought it was quite odd to use pine in a beverage. But this cocktail is nothing less than addicting.

Nothing fills us up with the spirit of winter quite like the scent of pine trees. The pine old-fashioned makes a powerful argument for breaking from convention.

The recipe requires simple pine syrup, which you can make ahead of time. The cocktail needs only three ingredients; pine simple syrup, bourbon, and bitters. 

We've got another whiskey sour, but pomegranate this time. The fruit Hades fed Persephone to dictate the lines between summer and winter lends the cocktail a tart bite. 

The beautifully hued showstopper uses pomegranate seed simple syrup for a sweet, tart kick.

Combine it with lemon juice and your favorite bourbon for a pleasant, refreshing holiday cocktail. 

Cranberry makes a return appearance to our list, paired with vanilla for a pleasant, sweet sip. This drink recipe uses only three ingredients to craft a nice winter flavor profile.

The cranberry vanilla whiskey cocktail gets the vanilla taste from flavored whiskey.

Amaretto and cranberry juice round out the cocktail, adding a bright, fruity punch. 

As this list has thoroughly proven, cranberry and whiskey make great bedfellows. The tart berry works beautifully with whiskey's bight. 

The cocktail borrows a dose of winter spices from ginger ale, which also bubbles the drink up for a fun, playful sip. 

Amaretto and lime round out the flavor profile. 

Maple's back! The syrup enhances a whiskey sour this time. Maple syrup provides the beloved cocktail with winter's favorite sweetness.

Maple whiskey sours mix up quickly and easily. The cocktail needs only four ingredients: maple syrup, bourbon, cinnamon, and lemon juice.

I make this cocktail when I get surprise guests. I just throw the ingredients into a shaker, give them a strong mix, and enjoy over ice. 

This orange and cinnamon Kentucky mule transitions the classic Moscow mule from summer to winter by subbing in whiskey for vodka.

The recipe calls for quite a few ingredients, so check your bar cart before beginning the drink.

A warm spiced syrup containing brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves lends the cocktail a pleasant holiday flavor.  

Bust out the egg whites; it's whiskey sour time again! This winter variant of the beloved cocktail uses buttered brown sugar syrup to achieve the ultimate holiday flavor.

Between the egg white foam and the homemade simple syrup, the rye whiskey sour is a surefire showstopper.

The drink requires a little more preparation than some on this list, but the steps are clear and easy to follow. 

The honey and pear whiskey cocktail borrows the flavors of a beloved holiday pie, adds alcohol, and pours it all over ice.

The cocktail has plenty of pear flavor, sweetened by a healthy dose of honey syrup.

The drink comes together quickly, even for beginner bartenders. Simply mix the ingredients in a shaker and pour over ice. 

Reindeer often overshadow Elk in the battle of the antlered winter animals. However, our horned friends know as much about holiday drinks as anyone.

The Elk's own provides another unique variation on the whiskey sour.

The recipe uses a good amount of alcohol, so I don’t make it that often. If you prepare it, drink responsibly.  

Fig makes a great holiday pudding and a superior winter cocktail. The fruit lends a cold-weather sweetness to the classic Manhattan. 

The beautifully colored drink uses fig preserves, honey, thyme, and cinnamon to achieve the perfect winter taste. 

The whiskey fig cocktail comes together quickly and easily. If you are feeling ambitious and really want to wow your guests, make your own fig preserves, following the instructions included in the recipe. 

The old-fashioned is back, and this time it's brought blueberries with it. The tart berries lend the cocktail bright sweetness and a gorgeous blue hue.

Prepare the blueberry simple syrup ahead of time so you can mix up the drinks whenever you want. The cocktail requires only three ingredients: the syrup, bourbon, and bitters. 

Cranberry triumphantly returns, this time with cherry in toe. The fruits work in tandem to lend the classic whiskey sour tart sweetness. 

You'll need to make cran-cherry simple syrup from frozen fruit before beginning to mix the cocktail.

This recipe calls for egg whites, so make sure none of your guests are vegan before serving them the drink. 

Plum is often overlooked as a winter fruit. However, the ingredient adds a pleasant sweetness to every recipe, including this plum apple hot toddy whiskey cocktail.

This winter whiskey cocktail calls for quite a few ingredients, some a bit unconventional.

Check your drink cart before mixing to ensure you have plum brandy and plum nectar juice. 

You don't actually need to go wassailing to enjoy this winter whiskey wassail cocktail. The warm mulled cocktail uses an array of spices to achieve the perfect holiday flavor.

Apple cider creates the drink's foundation, heated with anise, cinnamon, vanilla, lemon, and ginger.

A healthy dollop of whiskey eliminates any chill remaining in your bones.