Christmas Drinks Guide: What to Drink, Serve and Give This Christmas
Christmas drinks can go wrong in two ways: not enough of the right thing on the day, or a cupboard full of bottles nobody wanted. This Christmas drinks guide helps you plan once and enjoy it. It covers what to pour at each moment, how to match drinks to dinner, how much to buy and how to look after guests who are not drinking.
It works for every budget, from a quiet Christmas for two to a full house on Boxing Day. We refresh this Christmas drinks guide every year so it reflects what is in store at Bargain Booze, and you will find easy cocktails to try at home on the Booze Bar.
Jump To
How to plan your Christmas drinks
Think in moments, not bottles. Work through these six steps and the shopping list writes itself.
- List the moments. Most Christmases have four or five: Christmas Eve, the morning toast, dinner, a quiet evening in and Boxing Day visitors.
- Match drinks to the food. Choose for the weight of the dish, not just the colour of the wine.
- Plan the fizz. Decide who gets a toast and when, then count the glasses.
- Add something warm and something alcohol-free. Every table has someone who wants one or the other.
- Do the maths. Use the quantities below, then add one spare bottle.
- Buy early and chill in time. A few weeks ahead spreads the cost and avoids the last-minute rush.
Matching drinks to Christmas dinner
Turkey, ham and a nut roast are all gentle on the palate, so you do not need a heavyweight red. Look for fruit and softness instead. Our exclusive San Huberto Malbec has ripe blackberry, plum and red cherry with a lightly spicy edge and delicate oak, which suits roast meats, gravy and stuffing without overpowering them.
Sweet and sharp trimmings change the picture. Cranberry sauce, sprouts and pigs in blankets all welcome a drink with some acidity, so a crisp white or a chilled sparkling wine is rarely wrong. Beer deserves a place too. A crisp lager such as Asahi is a good friend to cold cuts, pickles and cheese on Boxing Day.
The rule of thumb is simple: the richer the plate, the more freshness you want in the glass.
Fizz, from the first toast to the last
Not all sparkling wine is the same, and knowing the difference makes choosing easier. Champagne comes only from the Champagne region of France. Crémant is French sparkling wine made outside Champagne using the same traditional method. Prosecco is Italian and usually lighter and fruitier. English sparkling wine is now a serious category in its own right.
Three new-to-the-market bottles are worth a look this year: Amiot Elisa Crémant de Loire, Acre & Press English Sparkling Wine and Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Shiraz. The Shiraz is the one to try with Christmas dinner, a red fizz with enough body to stand up to roast meat. Browse the full range in our wine section.
Chill sparkling wine for a few hours in the fridge, never the freezer, and open it slowly, holding the cork and turning the bottle.
Warm, cosy and alcohol-free
When the evening slows down, warm serves come into their own. Our Spiced Citrus and Apple cocktail heats cloudy apple juice with honey and lemon, then adds Cointreau and dark rum or bourbon. Cream liqueurs such as Baileys and Sheridans are lovely over ice, and Warninks Advocaat makes a classic Snowball with lemonade and a squeeze of lime. After dinner, brandy such as Bardinet VSOP or Asbach does the job, and Buffalo Trace is a smooth bourbon to sip.
Low and no deserves the same effort. The warm apple, honey and lemon base from the Spiced Citrus and Apple recipe is a lovely drink without the spirits, and a proper glass, ice and a garnish make any alcohol-free option feel part of the occasion.
Gifting without guessing
Match the bottle to the person. A whisky fan will enjoy Johnnie Walker Black Label. A sweet tooth will love Baileys Terry’s Chocolate Orange. A Secret Santa budget stretches to miniatures, and a bottle of fizz is always welcome for a host. Browse our spirits range and today’s offers on our deals page.
How much to buy per person
The quantities in this Christmas drinks guide are rules of thumb, so adjust them for your own crowd.
- Wine: a 75cl bottle pours about five 150ml glasses. Allow roughly half a bottle for each wine drinker at dinner.
- Fizz: a 75cl bottle pours about six 125ml flutes. One or two flutes each covers a toast.
- Spirits: a 70cl bottle holds about 28 measures of 25ml, enough for a full house over several days.
- Beer: allow a few cans or bottles for each beer drinker on each occasion.
- Always add one spare bottle of everything, and keep soft drinks and mixers in the fridge.
For advice on enjoying Christmas responsibly, visit Drinkaware.
Bring the Booze Bar home
Finish your Christmas drinks guide plan at the Booze Bar, which is packed with easy cocktail recipes and films you can follow at home. Find your nearest store with our store locator, then pick up this period’s best prices on our deals page. Sign up to the Bargain Booze newsletter for the latest offers and drinkspiration.
Christmas drinks guide FAQs
When should I buy my Christmas drinks?
Buying a few weeks ahead spreads the cost and avoids the last-minute rush. Sparkling wine and beer keep well, so you can stock up early and chill them nearer the day.
How much alcohol do I need for Christmas Day?
As a rule of thumb, allow half a bottle of wine for each wine drinker at dinner, one or two flutes of fizz each for a toast, and a few beers or spirit measures for the evening. Add one spare bottle of everything.
What drinks go with Christmas dinner?
Soft, fruity reds such as Malbec suit turkey, ham and a nut roast, while crisp whites and sparkling wines cut through rich trimmings. A chilled lager works well with cold cuts on Boxing Day.
What is the difference between Champagne, Crémant and Prosecco?
Champagne is sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France. Crémant is French sparkling wine made elsewhere in France using the same traditional method. Prosecco is Italian and usually lighter and fruitier.
What can I serve guests who are not drinking alcohol?
Offer something that feels like part of the occasion. A warm apple, honey and lemon drink with a proper glass and a garnish works well, and alcohol-free sparkling wine is another easy option.
How should I chill and open sparkling wine?
Chill it for a few hours in the fridge rather than the freezer. Hold the cork firmly, turn the bottle slowly and ease the cork out so it sighs rather than pops. Bargain Booze stores also stock a range of drinks sold cold for last-minute plans.
