Chris Cocktail Recipe ｜ The Best Easy Christmas Cocktail

This Chris cocktail pairs brandy’s richness with amaretto’s nutty warmth and lemon’s brightness, finished light with tonic water. Here’s a fun fact behind the name: “Chris” is a nod to “Kris Kringle,” a traditional nickname for Santa Claus that’s been used in English since the 19th century. Festive and easy to drink, it’s a genuinely good pick for Christmas parties or any winter gathering.

Recipe and Method

Ingredients

  Recommended Amaretto Brand

Method

• Technique ｜ Shake & Stir
• Glass ｜ Collins glass / Tumbler
• ABV ｜ Around 12-13%
• Best Enjoyed ｜ Daytime / After a meal

Chris ｜ Details and Video

Origins

Chris is a brandy-based cocktail with a festive character, and its name is a direct reference to “Kris Kringle” — the well-known alternate name for Santa Claus. It’s a fitting choice for toasting a winter gathering.

The build centers on brandy, rounded out by dry vermouth, amaretto, lemon juice, and a touch of syrup, then lengthened with tonic water for lightness and lift. The nutty sweetness and bright citrus work together like ribbon on a gift, tying the whole flavor profile into a neat, festive package.

Its approachable, easy-to-recreate build has helped it stick around as a home-friendly cocktail, especially popular during the holiday season.

Garnished with a lemon slice or cherry, it makes a genuinely photogenic addition to a Christmas table. It’s typically served cold, though some bartenders swap in hot water for the tonic to make a warm winter variation.

Character and Flavor

Chris is a brandy-based long drink that balances festive aroma with an easy-drinking finish. Brandy’s richness forms the base, joined by amaretto’s almond-like sweetness, dry vermouth’s herbal edge, lemon’s acidity, and a touch of syrup — then tonic’s fine bubbles lift the whole thing, keeping the finish crisp rather than cloying.

The first sip brings honeyed roundness, followed by aged, complex aromatics, before citrus closes things out with a light, clean finish. Adjust the amaretto for more sweetness or the lemon for more edge, and it comes together beautifully over ice in a long glass.

It works equally well as a dessert stand-in or a festive toast. The soda’s gentle bitterness keeps the sweetness in check, landing right in medium-sweet territory, with the alcohol showing up more in aroma than in strength, and a soft, easy finish.

Beginners might add a touch more lemon; those with more experience might scale back the vermouth to keep the aroma balanced. For a hot variation, swap the tonic for hot water using the same ratios, and you’ll get a gentler, warmly aromatic version of the same drink.

Points, Twists, and Food Pairings

Photo ｜ Gouda cheese

Food Pairings

• Fruitcake or mince pies — Brandy’s dried-fruit and caramel notes naturally echo these Christmas classics, while amaretto’s almond sweetness deepens the connection.
• Aged cheese (Gouda or cheddar) — The nutty, savory richness plays beautifully against the drink’s sweetness, and citrus keeps things from tasting too heavy.
• Roasted nuts or gingerbread cookies — Amaretto’s almond character amplifies nutty snacks, while spiced cookies pick up on brandy’s warm, aged aroma.

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Points

A common mistake is over-diluting by shaking too long, which flattens the citrus brightness that balances this drink. Shake hard but briefly, about 10-12 seconds, so the flavors stay vivid.

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Twists

• Add a dash of orange bitters for extra festive depth
• Rim the glass with sugar for a sweeter, more dessert-like finish
• Swap tonic for ginger ale for a spicier, more warming variation

I’d always use a good, aromatic brandy for this one — with amaretto and vermouth already sweet, a flat, one-note brandy gets completely lost in the mix.

Recipe Video

• Recipe Video ｜ Nomikata Kitchen   Channel Home