10 Christmas Cocktail Garnishes to Try

With the winter break just around the corner and Christmas day approaching, it's easy to feel overwhelmed with all the preparations. Amid the hustle and bustle, creating a cozy, festive atmosphere can transform the entire month of December and beyond. While serving those delectable, limited-edition Christmas cocktails, incorporating innovative, delicate, and zesty garnishes can add a delightful array of flavors and visual appeal.

To guarantee an RSVP, offer your guests a full sensory experience at your cocktail party. Beautiful garnishes not only enhance the taste but also demonstrate the thoughtful preparation behind your festive feast for the eyes and palate.

Whether you're aiming for aesthetic appeal or enhancing flavor, check out our Christmas-themed cocktail garnishes that anyone can easily make.

1. Pomegranate Arils

This deliciously sweet and tart ruby red fruit aligns perfectly with the rich color themes of Christmas. Pomegranate arils add a playful touch of color to any gin, vodka, or tequila-based cocktail. Try making pomegranate margaritas by adding fresh pomegranate juice to a classic margarita and garnishing with a few arils.

3. Slices of Apple and Pear with Cloves

Create a warm and aromatic garnish by pushing cloves into apple and pear slices. These slices can be placed on the rim or floated on top of a hot toddy. Let them soak for a minute before drinking to allow the fruit flavors to infuse into the drink. They are the perfect succulent accompaniment for a festive Spiced Apple Rum Punch, or a christmas twist on our ready to drink pina colada cocktail. For hot toddy inspiration, top up an Old-Fashioned whiskey cocktail with a little hot water, add a bit of brown sugar, and a slice of juicy red apple or crisp pear to enhance the flavour.

4. Candy cane

The iconic Christmas garnish, it works a treat with our limited edition candy cane cosmo ready mixed cocktail. Simply pour into your glass, and balance the candy cane on the side. Simple!

5. Dessert Gooseberries

Sweet red dessert gooseberries, along with blue fraughan berries (if you're lucky enough to find them), red lingonberries, or dried red mulberries, are beautifully plump and bursting with sour-sweetness. Their vibrant colors add a delightful touch to classic vodka or gin-based cocktails, such as a White Lady. Simply add a few of these berries to your drink for a visually appealing and flavorful garnish that enhances the drink's drinkability and festive charm.

6. Maraschino Cherries

The original Maraschino cherries made by Luxardo in Padua, Italy, are beloved in cocktail bars for their rich, sweet, and vibrant flavor. Candied in Sangue Morlacco Cherry Liqueur, these cherries are hard to resist even before they reach the cocktail. Rich, deep, and delicious, these dark cherries can be speared and rested on the rim of your glass, with an Old Fashioned poured over them. You can also drizzle a bar spoon of the syrup directly into the drink and drop a cherry in to add extra nuance and sweetness.

7. Slices of Orange, Lemon, and Cloves

The Boulevardier cocktail is a rich, warming winter drink that benefits from an artfully twisted piece of lemon peel or a slice of flamed orange peel. Add a festive spiciness by pushing a couple of cloves into a slice, or use a cooking torch to lightly flame a thin strip of peel before adding it to the top of your drink. Home-dried slices are easy to make and add extra bittersweet notes and texture to your cocktail. To prepare, remove as much moisture as you can from thinly sliced oranges and lemons between two tea towels, then place them on baking paper in a very low oven or dehydrator.

8. Dragon Fruit

One of the prettiest garnishes by far is the dragon fruit. Its white flesh dotted with small seeds in a fragrant pink skin makes it a favorite garnish for all sorts of cocktails. Use half slices to create a fan shape, spear it, and rest it in or on the edge of your drink. Alternatively, make a slit in whole slices and slot them onto the side of the glass. You can also use dried dragon fruit slices and place a round on the top of your vodka sour.

9. Strawberry

Strawberry Ensure you select ripe and sweet strawberries. Whether sliced or whole, strawberries are one of the most delightful and visually appealing garnishes that never fail to please. Their juicy sweetness is essential for a perfect Strawberry Margarita and pairs beautifully with a daiquiri. Muddle them with crushed ice, shake, strain, and pour directly into your cocktail to enhance its flavor profile. Impress guests at your next soirée with this beloved fruit.

10. Elderflower

Elderflower You can use dried or fresh elderflower, especially when in season. Its floral, sweet, fruity, and slightly crisp florets can be distilled or added to a sugar syrup to create homemade elderflower cordial, perfect for drinks like Elderflower Collins or our fragrant elderflower-infused Garden of Russia. The perfumed florets also make an inviting garnish for English garden cocktails.

Stunning garnishes to enchant your Christmas table Imagine a table overflowing with delectable dishes and cocktails that captivate at first glance—the ultimate Christmas welcome. Premium flavors and exquisite garnishes are sure to delight. Need cocktail inspiration to complement these garnishes? Check out our menu for the perfect pairing.

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