Keep it easy
Mulled drinks, beer, cider and one cocktail are enough for most homes.
24 December
Christmas Eve drinks: the calmer night before the big table
Christmas Eve has a different rhythm from Christmas Day. It is often more casual, more snack-led and a very good time to avoid opening every special bottle twenty-four hours early.
Keep it easySave the big bottlesThink snacks
Sipping Christmas
For the day itself
A practical festive guide with enough detail to choose, pour and pair with confidence.
Save the big bottles
If Christmas Day has special wine or Champagne planned, let anticipation do some work.
Think snacks
Cheese, charcuterie, mince pies and party food need flexible drinks.
01
The warm welcome
Mulled wine, spiced cider or alcohol-free apple punch makes sense when guests arrive from cold weather. Serve small portions and let people move to other drinks afterwards.
A warming serve is atmosphere; it does not need to remain the only drink all evening.
02
Beer, cider and easy wine
Christmas Eve food is often informal, which makes beer, cider and versatile wine useful. Dry cider handles cheese and pork; sparkling wine handles salty snacks; medium reds cope with charcuterie.
Keep one good alcohol-free beer or sparkling option visible in the same fridge.
03
Late-night drinks
Coffee, hot chocolate or a small whisky makes more sense late in the evening than a complicated final round of cocktails.
Christmas morning is better when Christmas Eve understands when to stop.
Where to next
Carry the festive plan into the next glass, dish or occasion.
Choose the next part of Christmas you are planning, or head straight to the bottles, pairings or tools that make this guide useful.
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