The Best Birthday Cocktails

Celebrate another trip around the sun in style with one of these celebratory birthday cocktails in hand! These drinks are truly a treat, but only for 21st birthdays and up, of course.

Your ultimate guide to birthday cocktails

Birthdays. Some people prefer skip the celebration. Me? I say bring it on! Why wouldn’t you want a day dedicated to you, especially if it comes with special drinks, treats and presents?!

A birthday is a day to sip something special, and these drinks are certainly a treat for your taste buds! Some embody a birthday cake in their flavors while others transform your favorite dessert into drink form.

Reference these recipes anytime you want to host a birthday bash, for you or for someone else. Don’t forget the candles!

Birthday cocktail ideas

When you’re picking a birthday cocktail for someone else, there are a few things to consider:

• Consider the birthday person’s tastes. An introvert may prefer a small, intimate gathering while an extrovert might enjoy a big surprise bash. If they have a favorite drink, like a margarita or whiskey, you can make that the signature drink of the night. Wine drinkers might love it if everyone brought a bottle of wine for a wine tasting party.
• Offer an activity. Whether it’s a drink station with all of the ingredients everyone needs to make their own drink or a photo station to capture memories, giving people something to do can help break the ice and get the conversation flowing.
• Pick a theme. Whether it’s a decades party celebrating the guest of honor’s favorite decade or a costume party focused on their favorite film, a theme is a fun way to keep the party focused. In addition to the decorations, you’ll want to tailor your drinks and snacks to the theme too.

Quick tips for hosting birthday parties

Birthday parties are so fun to host! You get to celebrate a special person in your life with a party dedicated to them. Here are a few tips that I follow to ensure things go smoothly:

1. Drinks should complement the menu. Once you have a theme and a menu picked out, add drinks that go with the food you’re making.
2. Your presence is a present. Prep things ahead of time, like pre-mixing cocktails or setting up the snacks, so you’re able to enjoy the celebration with your guests.
3. Options aren’t optional. Provide those in attendance with a couple of drinks to choose from in addition to the birthday cocktail you serve. Infused water is great for keeping everyone hydrated and a good mocktail goes a long way for those who prefer not to imbibe that’s a level up from soda.

Birthday cocktail garnishes

Here are some ways you can dress up your birthday cocktails up to feel ultra festive.

• Rim the cocktail in frosting & sprinkles. Roll the edge of the glass in frosting. I love this buttercream frosting, but you can also use cream cheese frosting or even royal icing. (See this sugar cookie martini for instructions on how to rim a cocktail with frosting and sprinkles.) This is a fun and delicious garnish to make any drink feel festive.
• Use fancy sprinkles. Oh, and let’s talk about the sprinkles. Did you know you can make your own sprinkles? It’s super easy and you can have fun customizing the colors to match the birthday theme.
• Add a birthday candle. You can stick a regular birthday candle in a drinking straw to use as a stirrer, or invest in these wish clips that stick to the edge of the glass.
• Use a fun drink stirrer. Use colorful rock candy or a festive, sparkly drink stirrer to dress up the cocktail glass.

What to serve with birthday drinks

If you think birthdays require a cake, think again! There are so many desserts that would be the perfect way to keep the party going.

Dessert first. Champagne cupcakes are an elegant option, but are so easy to make. Champagne buttercream frosting provides a perfectly boozy topper that everyone will love! If you’re starting the celebration early in the day with a breakfast or brunch, try a batch of birthday cake cinnamon rolls. You can even add a candle for extra pizzaz!

For something guests can grab and go, birthday cake popcorn is a colorful and sweet party snack. Pair it with a bowl of movie theatre popcorn for a sweet and salty combo that’s hard to beat.

It can’t all be cake! If you need something more substantial, I prefer to stick with appetizers that are easy to eat. This lets guest mingle more and keeps the energy of the party high. Pizza pinwheels and air fryer mozzarella sticks are definite crowd pleasers. For a fancier menu, you can never go wrong with a charcuterie board — you can even add the guest of honor’s favorite bites — or open-faced margherita sandwiches.

The best birthday cocktails

The perfect birthday cocktail will impress guests and make the guest of honor feel special. With a few small touches, you can mix up the best present of the night!