Even when the holidays happen through a screen, a great drink still sets the mood. These virtual holiday party cocktails and mocktails are easy, festive and perfect for whatever your gathering looks like — mixing together on Zoom, prepping ahead or whipping something up five minutes before the call. Think of this as your go-to menu for keeping things cheerful, no matter where everyone’s tuning in from.
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Your ultimate guide to virtual holiday party drinks
As a remote worker and freelancer, I’ve been hosting and popping into virtual holiday parties for years now, and honestly, they’re one of my favorite low-stress ways to celebrate.
There’s something so fun about mixing a drink together on Zoom, comparing mugs and glasses as everyone shows off their creations. Even a simple holiday happy hour where everyone brings whatever they’re sipping feels festive and easy.
Over time I’ve collected a handful of cocktails and mocktails that work beautifully for these online gatherings. Whether you’re planning ahead or grabbing something last-minute before you click “join meeting,” these ideas will keep the cheer flowing.
Formats for virtual holiday parties
There are a few fun ways to structure a virtual holiday happy hour, whether you’re gathering with friends, your book club or your team at work.
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- Merry mixology en masse: Mix a drink together live on the call, turning your virtual hangout into a mini cocktail class. Someone needs to lead the recipe, but it’s extra fun when a host, organizer or boss sends ingredients or offers a grocery stipend so everyone can follow along.
- Same sip, shared spirit: Everyone makes the same cocktail or mocktail ahead of time and shows up ready to toast. This format works well for friend groups, book clubs and office teams, and it’s even smoother when organizers cover ingredients or provide a small gift card.
- Giftable experiences: If you have time to plan ahead, it’s nice to send everyone supplies and/or ingredients, like a bottle of red wine (or a jug of cider!) and a packet of mulling spices so the whole group can warm up a cozy batch of homemade mulled wine together. These DIY cocktail infusion kits would also be an easy gift to ship and enjoy on the call together.
- Bring-your-own beverage bash: Perfect for big groups or a wide range of tastes, this option lets everyone join with whatever fits their mood, budget or dietary needs. It’s low pressure, super inclusive and still delivers plenty of festive cheer.
Tips to make a virtual happy hour feel like a party
Even on Zoom, a little structure goes a long way. You can also add simple conversation starters, a festive playlist or a quick “show and tell” of mugs and glassware to make the call feel more like a real gathering. These tiny touches help break the ice and keep the mood fun, no matter the group size.
Holiday mixology class: If someone is leading a cocktail or mocktail demo, keep it easy and organized. It doesn’t even have to be someone with bartending experience as long as they can lead a group! A class together feels surprisingly interactive and creates a shared “we made this together” moment.
- Share the ingredient and supply list a few days in advance and send along a grocery stipend or gift card if you can.
- Choose a recipe with simple steps (examples below!) so no one falls behind.
- During the call, the host can walk everyone through mixing, offer simple swaps for non-drinkers and encourage people to show off their finished drinks.
Holiday beverage bingo: If you go the BYOB route with a big group, you could turn this into a holiday beverage bingo, with DIY bingo cards filled with common seasonal drinks. As everyone shows off their drink, mark off your squares and see who gets a line first.
Superlative sips: Invite guests to snap a photo of their drink setup and share it in the chat or a shared folder. You can vote on “coziest,” “most creative garnish,” or “most likely to be sipped during a meeting.” Silly superlatives always get a laugh! Don’t forget a prize — Venmo or a digital gift card is probably the simplest (and most liked).
The best virtual holiday party cocktails & mocktails
Easy solo sippers
These are the low-lift drinks you can pull together minutes before a virtual happy hour, using ingredients you might already have on hand. Think cozy mugs and simple combos that still feel intentional when you raise them to the camera. These are great for those “bring your own beverage” calls where everyone shows up with whatever fits their mood, spiked or not.
Giftable drink experiences
These ideas build a little excitement before the call by sending something special ahead of time — maybe a set of festive glassware, a small gift card for ingredients or even a bottle of wine with mulling spices. Instruct guests to open their package before or during the call, or use it to make a coordinated drink together. It’s a simple way to make a virtual gathering feel thoughtful, memorable and a little more like an in-person celebration.
Festive Zoom mix-alongs
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