Today I want to bring you my guide to traditional Christmas drinks in the UK. Whether you want to make a classic cocktail or are excited about Scottish or English drinks, read on to find out what people in the UK drink during the Christmas season. There are lots of delicious tipples to choose from.
Traditional Christmas Drinks in the UK
Since moving to Britain, I’ve learned a lot about traditional Christmas drinks in the UK. From work events to evenings out with friends, I’ve sampled a range of Christmas cocktails and other festive favorites throughout each Yuletide season.
British Christmas drinks range from inventive cocktails to tried-and-true favorites. Whether you love mulled wine or winter Pimm’s, there’s a traditional tipple you’ll want to imbibe during the holiday period.
If you won’t be spending Christmas in Britain, these classic Christmas drinks will give you a taste of the UK from wherever you are in the world.
If you will be here, they’re a great addition to a traditional British Christmas dinner. Some pair particularly well with British Christmas desserts, too.
Books About UK Christmas Drinks
If you want to try making these and other traditional Christmas drinks in the UK, I recommend the recipes in the book Very Merry Cocktails: 50+ Festive Drinks for the Holiday Season.
This Christmas cocktail cookbook is full of drink recipes for the festive period. If you’re in the UK, you can get it on Amazon here. If you’re in the US, you can get it on Amazon here.
1. Mulled Wine at Christmas in the UK
Mulled wine is my favorite of all the traditional Christmas drinks in the UK. Made from blending hot wine with spices, it’s a great winter warmer.
Mulled wine is a staple throughout the festive season in the United Kingdom. You can find it in many pubs and at British Christmas markets. Lots of people make it at home for Christmas parties or family meals on December 25th, too.
You can find mulling spices at supermarkets and online. Buying them is an easy way to make this drink yourself by heating wine on your stove and steeping the spice sachets in it. If you’re in the UK, you can get some on Amazon here. If you’re in the US, you can get some on Amazon here.
2. Winter Pimm’s
Winter Pimm’s is another of my favorite traditional Christmas drinks in the UK. It’s made with Pimm’s No. 3, which is brandy-based and flavored with cinnamon, orange, and caramel.
Most people add warm apple juice and slices of apple and orange to make Winter Pimm’s at home. You can find it in some pubs and bars, too. It’s one of the most beloved Christmas cocktails of the festive season.
3. Champagne at Christmas in the UK
Next on my list of traditional Christmas drinks in the UK is champagne (or prosecco, cava, English sparkling wine, or other bubbles of your choice).
I know, I know. Some of you will be wondering why a drink that can be enjoyed at any time of year is on my list.
But when I moved to London, I was surprised to discover that Brits drink champagne all throughout the week at any time of year.
Back home in California, champagne was a celebratory drink. If there was a time to have it during the festive season, it was New Year’s Eve.
But over the years I’ve embraced the British enthusiasm for champagne on any occasion, and Christmas is no exception.
Champagne (and wine and beer, for that matter) is often drunk before, during, and after Christmas dinner in the UK. In fact, it’s one of the most popular drinks at Christmas in the UK.
It’s also enjoyed throughout the rest of the festive period (something has to get us through winter, after all).
If you want a variation, you can try a champagne cocktail or Buck’s Fizz (champagne and orange juice).
4. Mulled Cider
Next on my list of traditional Christmas drinks in the UK is mulled cider. Like mulled wine, this classic number is made by mulling seasonal spices in hot cider.
The result is a drink that will warm you up and whisk you off to a winter wonderland. It’s perfect if you prefer cider to wine, or if you want to make a non-alcoholic alternative with apple cider.
5. Christmas Cocktails
Last on my list of traditional Christmas drinks in the UK is festive cocktails. There are a lot of them to choose from, and every year one or another seems to get trendy. But there are some staples, and they’re worth knowing about.
One is Hot Buttered Rum. It’s made from spiced rum, water, butter, and brown sugar garnished with nutmeg and a cinnamon stick.
Another is British Christmas punch. This warm cocktail is made from dark rum, red wine, tea, and citrus. It’s perfect for channeling your inner Charles Dickens on a cold winter’s night.
Beyond those, everything from eggnog to sloe gin cocktails and Negronis abound during the Christmas season in the UK.
Traditional Christmas Drinks in the UK
I hope A Lady in London’s guide to traditional Christmas drinks in the UK has shown you some new tipples and inspired you to try drinking or making these seasonal cocktails and other festive favorites at home. Merry Christmas!
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