This holiday season, bring your love of sports to the party with creative, sports-themed cocktails and festive presentations that will impress your guests. Whether you’re toasting to a big win or just enjoying the holiday spirit, these drinks are sure to be a crowd-pleaser. With fun flavors, vibrant colors, and clever garnishes, each drink is designed to celebrate a favorite sport in style.
- The Merry Match-Up (Tennis)
Drink: A light and refreshing gin-based cocktail perfect for tennis fans.
- Ingredients:
- 2 oz gin
- 1 oz elderflower liqueur
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- Splash of tonic water
- Fresh mint and a lime wheel for garnish
How to Make It Look Like Tennis:
- Skewer a melon ball (like honeydew or cantaloupe) to mimic a tennis ball.
- Serve in a sleek, tall glass and wrap a green ribbon around the base to evoke tennis court lines.
- Holiday Home Run (Baseball)
Drink: A warm spiced rum cider reminiscent of summer days at the ballpark.
- Ingredients:
- 6 oz hot apple cider
- 1.5 oz spiced rum
- Dash of cinnamon
- Whipped cream and caramel drizzle
How to Make It Look Like Baseball:
- Place a circular sugar cookie decorated with red “stitches” on the rim to resemble a baseball.
- Serve in a mason jar for a classic ballgame feel, and add a red-striped straw or mini bat stir stick for flair.
- Rink-Side Toddy (Hockey)
Drink: A cozy bourbon hot toddy perfect for warming up after a chilly game.
- Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz honey
- ½ oz fresh lemon juice
- 6 oz hot water
- Cinnamon stick for garnish
How to Make It Look Like Hockey:
- Add a black licorice piece or chocolate truffle as a garnish to represent a hockey puck.
- Rim the mug with sugar crystals for an icy rink effect and tie a white ribbon around the handle.
- Festive Free Throw (Basketball)
Drink: A bold orange cocktail with a sweet and tangy kick.
- Ingredients:
- 2 oz orange vodka
- 1 oz triple sec
- 2 oz fresh orange juice
- Splash of grenadine
How to Make It Look Like Basketball:
- Garnish with an orange peel twist or float a small candy shaped like a basketball.
- Serve in basketball-textured tumblers or use a coiled orange ribbon to mimic the ball’s texture.
- Touchdown Toddy (Football)
Drink: A rich Irish coffee-inspired cocktail with a holiday twist.
- Ingredients:
- 6 oz brewed coffee
- 1.5 oz Irish whiskey
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- Whipped cream and cocoa powder
How to Make It Look Like Football:
- Use chocolate drizzle on the whipped cream to create football laces.
- Serve in a tall mug wrapped in a football-textured cozy or with a small foam football toothpick as a garnish.
- Penalty Shot (Soccer)
Drink: A bold tequila shot with a zesty, spicy kick.
- Ingredients:
- 1 oz tequila
- ½ oz lime juice
- Dash of chili powder
- Sugar or salt for rimming
How to Make It Look Like Soccer:
- Rim the shot glass with black and white sugar or salt.
- Add a small fondant soccer ball or black-and-white gummy on a skewer for garnish.
- Victory Lap (Racing)
Drink: A sparkling, fruity cocktail that feels as fast and fizzy as the race track.
- Ingredients:
- 4 oz sparkling wine
- 1 oz pomegranate juice
- ½ oz orange liqueur
How to Make It Look Like Racing:
- Garnish with candy wheels or round licorice slices to resemble tires.
- Wrap a black-and-white checkered ribbon around the glass to match the finish line flag.
Tips to Tie It All Together
- Sports Accessories: Use themed stir sticks or picks shaped like balls, racquets, or bats.
- Themed Ice Cubes: Create sports-themed ice using silicone molds in shapes like footballs or pucks.
- Edible Art: Add printed edible drink toppers or sugar decorations shaped like sports logos.
- Color Coordination: Match the drinks’ colors to the sports they represent—orange for basketball, green for tennis, black and white for soccer, etc.
Cheers to Sports & Holiday Spirit
From touchdown toddies to rink-side toddies, these creative cocktails bring sports fandom and holiday cheer together. Whether your guests are die-hard fans or just love festive drinks, these clever concoctions will keep the party going and make your gathering a hit. So, raise a glass, toast to your favorite sport, and celebrate in style.
Game on—and happy holidays!
Learn more here: https://www.delish.com/holiday-recipes/christmas/g860/holiday-cocktails/
Game On: Festive Holiday Foods for Watching Football and Basketball
The Sport Lady has been a lifelong sports enthusiast. She believes that sports have the power to unite people, create common bonds, and foster shared experiences. As a wife and mother of sports lovers, she is passionate about her favorite teams and cherishes every opportunity to watch them play. For her, every day is game day!