Christmas Cocktail Recipes: Celebrate Holiday Season With Festive Drinks [PHOTOS]

The holidays are here, and that means plenty of parties and gatherings with friends and family. If you're throwing a party, a great food and drink menu is the key to success. While eggnog is a Christmas classic, cocktails are equally popular and a great addition to end-of-the-year festivities. Check out the recipes to some drinks you may want to add to your party menu, courtesy of the Food Network and About.com.

Citrus Temptation

Ingredients
Raw sugar to rim glass
1 1/2 oz. limoncello
3/4 oz. orange-flavored vodka
Juice of 3 lime wedges, approximately 3/4 to 1 oz.
Ice
Directions
Dip a cocktail glass in a saucer of water to rim. Roll glass rim in raw sugar to coat. Pour limoncello and vodka into shaker with ice. Squeeze and add 3 lime wedges into shaker. Fill cocktail glass with ice. Strain drink into glass.

Cherry Gin-gria

Ingredients
Ice cubes
2 ounces cherry syrup (recommended: Giammona)
2 ounces gin
5 to 6 ounces club soda
1 ounce red wine
Maraschino cherries
Fresh or frozen raspberries
Directions
Fill a tall glass with ice cubes. Pour in the cherry syrup and the gin; stir to mix together. Lighten the drink with a generous splash of soda. Float a layer of red wine on top by pouring it over the back of a wide, flat spoon. (Don't worry if it doesn't float; it tastes great either way.) Drop a few maraschino cherries and raspberries into the glass. Drink.

Poinsettia Cocktail

Ingredients
1/4 cup vodka
1/4 cup Champagne
1/2 cup cranberry juice
Crushed ice
2 strips orange zest, each about 1/4-inch wide and 2 inches long

Directions
Combine the vodka, Champagne and juice in a large-stemmed red wine glass. Add crushed ice and stir until the mixture is well chilled. Twist the orange strips over the glass, drop them in, and serve.

Christmas Jones

Ingredients

4 fresh strawberries

1 1/2 oz vodka

2 tsp superfine sugar

5 oz pineapple juice

7-Up (or other lemon-lime soda)

Mint sprigs for garnish

Directions

In a blender, whiz the vodka, strawberries, sugar and pineapple juice together. Pour the mix equally into two highball glasses. Top with 7-Up. Garnish with a sprig of mint.