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What to Drink in January


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From drinks that ward off the winter blues to light, bright sippers that will help you bounce back after heavy holiday fare, there is so much to enjoy in January! Find something that fits your journey and satisfies your taste buds.

A glass of light pink spicy Paloma cocktail with ice, a chili powder rim, garnished with a grapefruit slice, rosemary sprig, and jalapeño slices, sits on a white surface.

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Your ultimate guide to January drinks

As much as I love the holiday season, there’s just something about January energy that I enjoy. It’s a chance to take a breath and reset after the chaos that tends to accompany the days from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve.

It’s also a chance to re-evaluate your goals and where you want your year to start off. Whether you want to take a step back after indulging over the holidays or are focused on fitness goals and need something lighter to support them, there’s plenty to choose from.

The one thing I don’t love? The cold. Sure, NC doesn’t get that cold in the grand scheme of things, but at this point I’m ready to sit on a patio with a cool drink in hand. Since that’s not in the cards, I lean on winter warmers to stay cozy — and maybe binge a new show or two.

I try to strike a balance during January, leaning into brighter flavors that are in season while still enjoying warm drinks when the situation calls for it. Find your favorites on the list and decide what fits your mood!

January flavors

 January is peak season for winter citrus — blood oranges, grapefruit and kumquats are at their freshest and most flavorful right now, which makes it the perfect time to let them shine in your glass. Pear and pomegranate are other flavorful options that are in season and ready to shine.

For warm drinks, you’ll want to keep hot chocolate and cider in the rotation. Chai is another great option since it’s packed with spices that warm you from the inside out.

Herbs like rosemary, thyme and sage pair well with the fruits that are in season. They add depth to your drinks and a freshness that is welcome after a month of heavy holiday fare.

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A glass with geometric gold pattern filled with a dark red frothy drink, ice, and a citrus peel garnish on top. Another glass and blood orange slices are partially visible nearby.

What’s happening this month 

January is a great chance to take a breath after the hectic nature of the holiday season. Use it as a reset and find drinks that match your intentions.

  • Dry January: This personal challenge is a chance to cut down on your consumption of booze and explore other drinks. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing — low ABV cocktails are a way to cut back on your alcohol without omitting it completely.
  • Veganuary: Much like Dry January, Veganuary challenges its participants to adopt a vegan lifestyle for the month. Fortunately, there are plenty of vegan drinks and ways to adapt your favorite recipes if you’re participating.
  • Bloody Mary Day: Bloody Mary’s may be a brunch icon, but they also have an entire day dedicated to them (it’s January 1). Mix up the classic or try one of the many variations.
  • Rose Bowl: Game day is a great excuse for good drinks and snacks!
  • Award Shows: The Golden Globes are a fun excuse to host if you’re feeling the loss after the holidays. Go glam and make elegant drinks to match!

Your January drink menu

Here’s a curated January drink menu you can have fun with that includes cocktails and mocktails for every kind of gathering.

Seasonal January favorites

Keep January light and bright with drinks that highlight winter citrus and complimentary herbs that shine. On colder days, lean into spiced sippers that help warm you up.

1
A glass of light-colored spicy paloma cocktail garnished with a jalapeño slice, grapefruit slice, rosemary sprig, and a chili powder rim, with fresh jalapeños and rosemary nearby.
Spicy Paloma
January grapefruit is some of the best of the year, and the Paloma is one of the simplest ways to let it shine — just tequila, fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, a splash of lime and a salted rim. It's light enough to feel refreshing even on a cold day, and far more interesting than the same drinks you've been making since the holidays.
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2
Pick up some pearly kumquats, cut some rosemary and combine for a totally new way to appreciate winter citrus. The Rosemary Kumquat Moscow Mule is a bright and refreshing variation on everyone's favorite drink with vodka and ginger beer. Copper mug optional, but totally encouraged. (via feastandwest.com)
Rosemary Kumquat Moscow Mule
Kumquats are a fleeting winter treat that most people walk past at the grocery store, but muddled into a Moscow Mule they add a sweet-tart citrus punch that ginger beer alone can't deliver. The Kumquat Mule is a great way to use them up while they're in season, and it looks as good as it tastes served in a chilled copper mug.
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3
A glass mug of hot chocolate topped with mini marshmallows, placed on a wooden coaster with scattered marshmallows nearby.
Homemade Hot Chocolate
When it's cold enough outside that you don't want to leave the house, homemade Hot Chocolate made with real melted chocolate and warm milk is the only answer. Skip the powdered mix entirely — a good quality chocolate bar makes a drink that's richer, creamier and far more satisfying on a January evening.
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4
Two greyhound cocktails garnished with grapefruit slices and sprigs of sage.
Greyhound Drink
The Greyhound is proof that two ingredients are sometimes all you need — fresh grapefruit juice and vodka over ice make a drink that's crisp, clean and effortlessly drinkable. It's one of the best ways to take advantage of winter citrus season without any fuss, and it comes together in about thirty seconds. (For fun: Add a salted rim and you've got a Salty Dog.)
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5
A glass of amber-colored chai cocktail with a large ice cube, garnished with a cinnamon stick and star anise, sits on a white surface next to a red cloth.
Chai Old-Fashioned Cocktail
The Chai Old-Fashioned is the kind of drink January was made for — bourbon warmed up with a homemade chai syrup of cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and clove, balanced with a dash of cardamom bitters. Make a big batch of the chai syrup at the start of the month and you'll have cozy cocktails on demand all season long.
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6
A shiny gold tray sits on a white marble surface holding two martini glasses filled with coffee-colored liquid. Coffee beans are scattered around
Espresso Martini
The Espresso Martini has had a full cultural moment, and January — when everyone needs a little extra motivation to get through the week — is the perfect time to add it to your home bar rotation. Pull a fresh shot of espresso right before you shake it and you'll get a frothier, more flavorful drink than any version made with cold brew concentrate.
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7
A glass with a geometric gold pattern filled with a dark purple-red drink and a slice of orange garnish, placed on a white surface.
Blood Orange Whiskey Sour
Blood oranges have a short season and January is prime time to use them, and the Blood Orange Whiskey Sour is one of the most stunning ways to do it — the juice adds a deep ruby color and a berry-tinged citrus flavor that regular orange juice simply can't replicate. Shake it with whiskey, a squeeze of lemon and a touch of simple syrup for a cocktail that looks like it took way more effort than it did.
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8
A Virgin Margarita in a glass with lime and lime wedges.
Virgin Margarita
The Virgin Margarita is a genuinely good drink in its own right — fresh lime juice, a splash of orange juice and a touch of agave over ice with a salted rim is bright, balanced and satisfying without needing tequila to carry it. It's a natural fit for January when you want something festive that doesn't involve alcohol.
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Lighter drinks

January has a way of making people want to reset a little after the holidays — not necessarily go full monk mode, but maybe reach for something a little lighter without feeling like you're missing out. These drinks are proof that low-effort and low-key doesn't have to mean boring, whether you're cutting back on alcohol, watching how much sugar you eat or just craving something that won't weigh you down.

9
limes, a silver jigger and two vodka sodas on grey coasters.
Vodka Soda
The Vodka Soda is as simple as it gets, but the difference between a mediocre one and a great one comes down to a good squeeze of fresh lime and a vodka you actually like the taste of. Keep a bottle of sparkling water in the fridge and this is a two-minute drink that feels effortless any night of the week.
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10
A gin and tonic in a clear rocks glass on a gray stone coaster.
Gin & Tonic
A well-made Gin & Tonic is one of those drinks that rewards a little experimentation — different gins bring wildly different botanical flavors, from floral and citrusy to piney and herbal, and pairing them with the right tonic makes a noticeable difference. It's a great January drink because it feels crisp and clean without being boring.
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11
A glass of dark red cocktail with ice and a cherry garnish, surrounded by another similar glass, a bottle, and a small bowl with cherries.
Sleepy Girl Mocktail
The Sleepy Girl Mocktail went viral for a reason — tart cherry juice is a natural source of melatonin, and combined with a scoop of magnesium powder and sparkling water, it's become a genuine nighttime ritual for people looking to improve their sleep in the new year. If better rest is on your January list, this is a far more enjoyable way to work toward it than a supplement you swallow and forget about.
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12
Two glasses of a refreshing cocktail with ice, each garnished with a cucumber spiral and mint. Sliced cucumber and lime wedges are arranged on a wooden board nearby.
Cucumber Mocktail
Fresh cucumber muddled with a squeeze of citrus and topped with sparkling water makes a drink that feels genuinely elegant for something so simple to put together. The Cucumber Mocktail is the kind of thing you can sip on a Tuesday night and feel like you're doing something good for yourself — because honestly, you are.
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Bloody Mary Day

National Bloody Mary Day falls on January 1st, and the timing is no coincidence — it's long been the go-to morning-after drink for anyone who got a little too festive on New Year's Eve. What makes the Bloody Mary such a great category of drink is how flexible it is: the savory tomato base works with vodka, gin or no alcohol at all, so there's a version for everyone at the table whether you're easing into the new year or already committed to a dry January.

13
classic Bloody Mary cocktail on a bed of garnishes
Classic Bloody Mary
The Classic Bloody Mary is one of those drinks that's deeply personal — everyone has an opinion on the ratio of heat to tang to savory, which is exactly why making it at home is better than ordering one out. Start with a good quality tomato juice, season it assertively with Worcestershire, hot sauce, horseradish and a squeeze of lemon, and adjust from there until it tastes like yours.
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14
garnishes on top of a red snapper cocktail
Red Snapper Cocktail
The Red Snapper swaps vodka for gin, and if you've never tried it that way, January 1st is the perfect occasion — the botanical notes of a good London dry gin add an herbal complexity to the savory tomato base that vodka simply can't deliver. It's my personal favorite version of the Bloody Mary, and once you try it you may never go back to the original.
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15
a non-alcoholic Bloody Mary with olives, tomatoes, cheese and celery on top
Virgin Bloody Mary
The Virgin Mary is everything you love about a Bloody Mary without the alcohol, and unlike a lot of mocktail substitutes it doesn't feel like something is missing — the savory tomato base, the heat, the citrus and the garnishes do all the heavy lifting on their own. It's a natural fit for anyone doing dry January who still wants to feel like they're participating in the New Year's Day tradition.
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16
A Bloody Caesar cocktail with a lemon and celery garnish.
Bloody Caesar Cocktail
The Bloody Caesar is Canada's answer to the Bloody Mary, and if you've never made one it's worth trying just for something different — Clamato juice, which blends tomato juice with a hint of clam broth, sounds unusual but adds a subtle briny depth that makes the whole drink taste more complex and savory. It has a devoted following for a reason, and it's one of those drinks that's much easier to appreciate once you actually make it yourself.
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Dry January

Dry January has gone from a niche resolution to a mainstream movement, and the mocktail options have gotten genuinely good in response — these aren't sad substitutes, they're drinks worth making in their own right. The goal here isn't to white-knuckle your way through the month with sparkling water and a lime wedge, but to actually enjoy what's in your glass while you give yourself a reset after the holidays.

17
Two cocktails in patterned glasses with orange peel and cherry garnishes, placed beside a brass jigger and a whole orange on a white marble surface.
Old-Fashioned Mocktail
The Old-Fashioned Mocktail leans on non-alcoholic whiskey, bitters and a good orange to replicate the bittersweet depth of the classic, and the result is surprisingly sophisticated for a drink with no spirits in it. It's the kind of thing you can sip slowly on a January evening and feel like you're not missing anything.
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18
A pink cocktail in a copper mug, garnished with ice, rosemary, and cranberries. A jigger and bowl of cranberries are nearby.
Virgin Yule Mule
Ginger beer and fresh lime are already doing most of the heavy lifting in a Moscow Mule, so pulling the vodka out, or replacing it with a zero-proof spirit, still leaves you with a drink that's spicy, bright and genuinely refreshing. Serve the Virgin Mule in a chilled copper mug over crushed ice and it feels just as festive as the original.
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19
A glass mug of coffee with cream, set on a green coaster. Nearby are gold spoons, a golden jigger, and a small pot of coffee. Another similar mug is in the background.
Irish Coffee Mocktail
Whiskey gets swapped for a little extra sweetness here, letting the coffee and cream take center stage in a way that makes this Irish Coffee Mocktail a natural fit for cold January mornings or slow weekend evenings. Use a good quality coffee and real cream and it's a drink that feels indulgent without any alcohol required.
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20
A cocktail in a star-patterned glass garnished with dried orange slices, beside another similar drink and a gold jigger, on a white surface with small thyme sprigs.
Citrus Ginger Beer Mocktail
Fresh citrus, spicy ginger beer and a handful of ice is all it takes to put together something bright and satisfying — and this Citrus Ginger Beer Mocktail is the kind of easy, no-fuss drink that makes dry January feel a lot less restrictive. It's endlessly riffable too, so swap in whatever citrus looks best at the market this time of year.
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Awards show drinks

Award season kicks off in January with the Golden Globes and runs straight through spring, which gives you plenty of occasions to mix something a little more elevated than your average weeknight drink. These are cocktails and mocktails worth dressing up for — the kind of thing you'd want in your hand while you're debating who should have won best picture.

21
Two martini glasses with lime slices and a martini shaker.
French Gimlet
Elderflower liqueur is what sets the French Gimlet apart from a classic gimlet, adding a delicate floral note that makes the whole drink feel a little more special occasion than your average Tuesday. Shake it with gin and fresh lime juice and you've got something bright, balanced and genuinely elegant without a lot of effort.
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22
Two champagne flutes filled with a light yellow elderflower French 75, each garnished with lemon twists, sit on a white surface dotted with scattered confetti.
Elderflower French 75 Cocktail
Few drinks feel as naturally suited to a toast as the Elderflower French 75 — gin, elderflower liqueur and fresh lemon juice topped with champagne is the kind of combination that looks and tastes like you put in more effort than you actually did. Make a big batch of the base ahead of time and top individual glasses with champagne as guests arrive so you're not stuck behind the bar when the opening monologue starts.
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23
a brown derby drink with a grapefruit wedge garnish
Brown Derby Cocktail
Bourbon, fresh grapefruit juice and honey syrup make the Brown Derby one of those cocktails that sounds simple but tastes far more considered — and with winter citrus at its peak in January, the grapefruit here is going to be as good as it gets all year. It's a great awards show drink because it feels classic and intentional without being fussy.
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24
Two glasses of pear-colored drinks with ice, cinnamon sticks, and rosemary sprigs, surrounded by fresh pears, cinnamon sticks, and rosemary on a white background.
Pear Mocktail
Crisp, lightly sweet and elegant enough to hold its own alongside the cocktails on the table, a Pear Mocktail is the kind of alcohol-free option that doesn't announce itself as a substitute. Serve it in a coupe glass with a thin pear slice and nobody watching the red carpet coverage will know the difference.
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What to serve with these drinks

FAQ

What is in season in January?

Citrus is reaching the end of its season in January, with plenty of blood oranges, grapefruit, lemons and limes still packing plenty of flavor. Pear and pomegranate are also sticking around and herbs like rosemary, thyme and sage are great for the month.

What should I stock my bar with in January

If you’re participating in Dry January, you’ll want to have zero-proof spirits on hand to give your drinks depth without the booze. You can make your own zero-proof spirits at home or pick some up at the store.

Vodka is always a smart all-purpose option to keep on your bar cart, along with whiskey and rum which work well in cozy sippers. Gin works well with bright citrus-forward drinks, taking advantage of what’s in season. Learn more about stocking your bar for winter cocktails.

What are some good batch drinks you can make ahead?

Virgin sangria gets better as it sits, so make it ahead of time and enjoy it over several days or share it with a group. If you’re hosting a group watch for the Golden Globes, make something more elegant like a batch espresso martini (you can opt for the virgin version if you’re skipping the booze.)

If you want a non-alcoholic option, strawberry water or citrus-infused water is a refreshing, hydration-friendly choice to keep alongside the cocktails. These winter mocktails are also worth checking out.

About Susannah

Susannah Brinkley Henry is the founder of Feast + West, a cocktail blog featuring creative, budget-friendly drinks and hosting ideas. A graphic designer with bartending school training, she shares cocktails, mocktails, appetizers and desserts for easy, stylish entertaining. Her work has been featured by Southern Living, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post and Mashable, and she was a finalist in the Saveur Blog Awards. Susannah is also a publisher on MSN and has appeared on local news segments sharing seasonal drinks. She lives in Charlotte, N.C., where she brings Southern charm and global inspiration to every pour. Read more.

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