The 2026 Winter Games are in northeast Italy this year, and we’re already embracing the host country’s ideology of living la dolce vita by planning which cocktails we’ll serve at our watch parties in February.
Italy might make you think of summery Aperol Spritzes with bubbly Prosecco, but we’re leaning into the cozy, après-ski vibes with our cocktail teams this year. Keep scrolling for a round-up of 10 cocktail recipes inspired by a few key nations participating in the 2026 Winter Games.
(And of course, GO USA!!!)
The first cocktail goes to our forever #1, Team USA. It’s a bourbon smash (because we had to feature America’s national spirit, duh) with wintry flavors of cranberry and ginger for a spicy, crisp cocktail to enjoy as you watch this year’s U.S. figure skating team dominate the rink. We’re especially hyped to watch Ilia Malinin, the self-proclaimed “Quad God,” show us what he’s got up his skintight lycra sleeve this year.
The Recipe
1 ounce cranberry juice
2 ounces ginger beer
½ ounce lime juice
Cranberries
Add bourbon, cranberry juice and lime juice to a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Top with ginger beer and stir gently to combine. Garnish with fresh cranberries and a lime wheel.
When it comes to ice hockey at the Winter Games, Canada is a dominant force. Mix up a Maple Ice Shaker to watch Team Canada chuck pucks this season, featuring two Canadian treasures: whisky and maple syrup.
The Recipe
2 ounces Canadian Premium Whisky
½ ounce maple syrup
2 ounces cold brew
¼ ounce vanilla syrup
Cinnamon stick
Maple leaf cream cookie
Add Canadian whisky, cold brew, maple syrup and vanilla syrup to a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until chilled and frothy. Strain into a chilled glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and/or a maple leaf cream cookie.
Norway is one of the most successful nations in Winter Games history, and it deserves a cocktail just as good as its winning record. This clean, refreshing cocktail combines dry gin, elderflower liqueur, citrus and Prosecco for a squeaky-clean drink that’s as icy as the ski slopes of Milan. Norway? Yes, way!
The Recipe
1 ½ ounces Balfour Street Gin
¾ ounces Lozano Elderflower Liqueur
½ ounce fresh lemon juice
3 ounces Octopoda Prosecco Brut DOC
Splash of soda water
Rosemary sprig
Add gin, elderflower liqueur and lemon juice to a wine glass filled with ice. Stir gently to chill. Top with Prosecco and a splash of soda water. Garnish with a lemon peel and a sprig of rosemary.
Whether Japanese salarymen drink their usual evening highballs in success or defeat, this Winter Games season, remains to be seen. Either way we’ll be enjoying this delicious favorite cocktail of the Land of the Rising Sun regardless. A touch of yuzu syrup adds a delightful zest to this simple Japanese whisky cocktail.
The Recipe
2 ounces Sensei Japanese Whisky
4 ounces club soda
½ ounce yuzu syrup
Add whisky, club soda and yuzu syrup to a highball glass over ice and stir to combine. Garnish with a lemon twist.
For this year’s host with the most, we have a spin on the traditional Aperol Spritz, this time with a splash of blood orange juice for a sweet and tart twist. The rosemary sprig garnish doesn’t just look like a wee pine branch in your drink, but it also enhances the aromatic experience of enjoying this drink. Salute!
The Recipe
2 ounces Villa Cardea Aperitivo
3 ounces Octopoda Prosecco Brut DOC
1 ounce blood orange juice
Splash of soda water
Half wheel of blood orange
Rosemary sprig
Add Aperol and fresh blood orange juice to a wine glass filled with ice. Stir gently to combine. Top with Prosecco and a splash of soda water. Garnish with a half-wheel of blood orange and a sprig of fresh rosemary.
Pro Tip: Give the rosemary sprig a quick slap between your hands before adding it to the glass. This releases the aromatic oils for a sensory aroma with every sip.
A winter cocktail list without a hot toddy recipe would be a crime, right? Right. This cherry hot toddy gives a nod to Germany, inspired by the Black Forest region and its iconic cherry chocolate cake. Swap the rum for Jägermeister for peak German influence.
The Recipe
2 ounces Cayman Reef Dark Rum
2 ounces cherry juice
½ ounce honey
4 ounces hot water
¼ ounce lemon juice
Cinnamon stick
Add rum, cherry juice, lemon juice and honey to a warm mug or heat-resistant glass. Top with hot water and stir until the honey is dissolved. Garnish with a cinnamon stick, a cherry and a lemon wheel.
Trust us, you won’t be able to stay neutral about this espresso martini variation. Aside from Roger Federer and nice watches, Switzerland is known for its decadent chocolate, which we’ve incorporated in this chocolate-soaked espresso martini recipe. Consider dusting Swiss Miss hot chocolate mix on top for an extra nod to this Alpine nation.
The Recipe
1 ½ ounces Alpine Blu Vodka
1 ounce Cayman Reef Kona Coffee Liqueur
1 ounce espresso, chilled
½ ounce chocolate syrup
Cocoa powder
Add vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso and chocolate syrup to a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for at least 20 seconds to create a thick, frothy foam. Double strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass. Garnish with a dusting of cocoa powder.
Soju, a traditional Korean rice wine, is gaining in popularity among younger drinkers, and it’s easy to see why – the stuff is just plain delicious. That’s why we’ve combined it with lime, pear and ginger beer in this sweet homage to South Korea. (If you get bored with the games and decide to drink this while rewatching K-Pop Demon Hunters, that’s cool, too.)
The Recipe
2 ½ ounces Komainu Original Soju
½ ounce fresh lime juice
1 ounce pear juice
3 ounces ginger beer
Thin pear slices
Mint sprig
Add soju, lime juice, and pear juice to a copper mug filled with crushed ice. Stir briefly to combine. Top with ginger beer and give it one more gentle stir. Garnish with a thinly sliced pear fan and a sprig of fresh mint.
Representing Team Sweden is a true classic: a simple, clean martini. Three ingredients, bone-dry and always refreshing, we raise this martini to Sweden. Whether they bring home an impressive haul of gold medals or not, they’ve always got ABBA, so their contributions to the world stage are pretty much set for the rest of time.
The Recipe
2 ½ ounces Absolut Original Vodka
½ ounce Martini Dry Vermouth
Add the vodka and dry vermouth to a mixing glass with ice. Stir gently for about 30 seconds until the vessel is frosted and the drink is ultra-chilled. Strain the mixture into a frozen martini glass or coupe. Garnish with a lemon peel twist.
Rounding out our team selections is a truly celebratory cocktail – the cocktail of champions, one might say. Featuring two of France's finest, Champagne and Chambord, this raspberry spritz cocktail is the perfect way to toast to another season of sportsmanship, international collaboration and dang good cocktails.
The Recipe
1 ounce Grey Goose Vodka
½ ounce Chambord Raspberry Liqueur
½ ounce fresh lemon juice
3 ounces Haton Brut Classic Champagne
Frozen raspberry
Rosemary sprig
Add vodka, raspberry liqueur and lemon juice to a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled Champagne flute. Top with Champagne and stir gently to combine. Garnish with a frozen raspberry and a sprig of rosemary.
Prefer to watch a more all-American genre of sports entertainment? Check out our guide to the best game day sips for football’s biggest Sunday.
