The best Christmas cocktails

Now the festive season is in full swing and parties are coming thick-and-fast there's a good chance you'll be hosting one. So on your behalf, we spoke to expert mixologist Giles Looker about what cocktail recipes are sure to loosen up the frostiest of crowds this winter time.

For more cocktail ideas visit www.southerncomfort.co.uk.

(Images: Getty, Gep Pasqual, Flickr)

Christmas Comfort

Ingredients:

• 40ml Southern Comfort

• 20ml Lemon juice

• 80ml Cranberry juice

• 10ml Sugar syrup

• Dash of bitters (Optional)

Mixing them up:

1. Add all ingredients into a pan and heat gently, do not boil!

2. Garnish with an orange twist (peel from an orange)

Mulled Mojito

Ingredients:

• 50ml spiced rum (infused with dried ginger, apricots and sultanas)

• 10 mint leaves, plus extra to garnish

• 20ml lemon juice

• 20ml simple syrup

• 1tbsp rum-soaked fruit

Mixing them up:

1. Muddle the fruit from the infusion with the mint and lemon juice

2. Add the infused rum, syrup and swizzle with crushed ice in a highball glass

3. Garnish with the rum soaked fruit and the extra mint leaves.

Mississippi Mule

Ingredients:

• 35ml Southern Comfort

• Juice of 4 lime wedges

• Ginger beer

• 3 dashes Angostura Bitters

Mixing them up:

1. Fill glass with cubed ice

2. Pour in Southern Comfort

3. Squeeze the lime wedges into the glass and discard

4. Add the Angostura Bitters

5. Top with ginger beer

6. Garnish with lime wedges

Soul Eggnog

Ingredients:

• 35ml Brandy

• 15ml Port

• 40ml Cream

• 1 whole egg

• Dash of sugar syrup

Mixing them up:

1. Shake all the ingredients together long and hard

2. Strain into a small wine glass

3. Garnish with a grate of fresh nutmeg

A Bitter Chill

Ingredients:

• 25ml Gin

• 25ml Campari

• 2 tea spoons of cherry conserve

• 20ml Apple juice

• 10ml Lemon Juice

• 5ml Simple syrup

• 4 ruby red grapes

Mixing them up:

1. Muddle the grapes in a cocktail shaker

2. Add the rest of the ingredients then shake hard and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

3. Garnish with Campari soaked Cherries.

Happy New Orleans

Ingredients:

• 25ml Southern Comfort

• 15ml Chambord

• 5ml Sugar syrup

• 10ml Lemon juice

• Top with Champagne

Mixing them up:

1. Place all ingredients in a Champagne flute

2. Stir gently and top with Champagne

3. Garnish with lemon twist (peel from a lemon)