If you're feeling festive but ready for a change from champagne, Perth's top bartenders have the perfect solution. With Christmas 2025 fast approaching, four of the city's leading mixologists have shared their exclusive recipes for the ultimate holiday tipples, all designed to be easily recreated at home.
From Classic Martinis to Festive Punches
Whether you're planning a casual backyard lunch or a more formal New Year's Eve celebration, these drinks promise to impress your guests. They blend classic summer flavours with a distinctively festive twist, offering everything from a seasonal martini to a large-batch punch perfect for sharing.
Nic Lee, mixologist at the Lobby Lounge in Crown Perth, kicks off the festivities with two creations. His Festive Punch is a vibrant, crowd-pleasing mix that tastes like Christmas in a glass. The recipe combines Ketel One Vodka, Pimms, rhubarb liqueur, and fig syrup with cranberry juice and apple cider, finished with spiced cranberry bitters and a garnish of apple, cranberries, rosemary, and a burnt cinnamon stick.
Lee's second offering, the Christmas Gin Treat, is a refreshing sensory delight. Made with Gordon's Pink Gin, Galliano Vanilla, Creme De Cacao, and cherry syrup, it's shaken and served in a salt-rimmed coupe glass, garnished with a maraschino cherry and a rosemary wreath.
A Mistletoe Kiss and a Creamy Dream
Oscar Hegge, bartender at Cypher at The Beaufort, gives the classic martini a holiday makeover. His Mistletoe Martini is a crisp, floral-kissed cocktail inspired by festive berries. It balances premium vodka and tart cranberry juice with elderflower liqueur, a dash of sugar syrup, and plum bitters, served with a rosemary sprig and two cherries for a playful nod to the holiday tradition.
For those who prefer a richer, dessert-style drink, Jordan Philips, bar operations manager at Hillarys Beach Club, offers the White Christmas. This "cheeky yet crushable" cocktail is built on a base of Kraken spiced rum and Mr Black coffee liqueur, topped with a luxurious layer of cream, sweetened condensed milk, and Baileys. A final grating of fresh lime zest adds a bright, summery aroma perfect for the Australian climate.
The Showstopper: A Fig Leaf Martini
The final recipe comes from Jackson Collins, bar manager at Pearla & Co. His Fig Leaf Martini is a sophisticated and unique option that requires a little forward planning but delivers exceptional flavour. The process involves steeping fresh fig leaves with white rum, apricot brandy, and caster sugar for 24 hours to create a custom liqueur.
Once strained and chilled, this liqueur is mixed with Idee Fixe Margaret River Premier Brut and served in frozen martini glasses. It's a distinctly Australian take on a classic, showcasing local ingredients and innovative bartending techniques.
All these recipes were shared with PerthNow on 20 December 2025, providing a timely guide for last-minute holiday preparations. They prove that with a few quality ingredients and simple steps, you can bring a taste of Perth's best bars into your own home this silly season.
