Cinnamon Sugar Sleigh Ride

Tequila belongs on the Christmas table too. This is a creamy, cinnamon-spiced holiday cocktail built on aged anejo, Irish cream, and cinnamon syrup, finished with a cinnamon-sugar rim that makes every sip taste like a snickerdoodle. It is cozy, a little dessert-like, and an easy alternative to eggnog when you want something festive but not heavy. Here is how to make this Christmas tequila cocktail, plus how to rim it, batch it, and vary it for a party.

INGREDIENTS

1.5 oz SWOL Anejo Tequila (aged, so it drinks warm and spiced, close to a spiced rum)
1 oz Irish cream (Baileys or any Irish cream; see the swap note)
0.5 oz cinnamon syrup (buy it or make it, see below)
0.5 oz cream (heavy cream for richness, half-and-half for lighter)
Cinnamon sugar for the rim, plus cinnamon or nutmeg dust and a cinnamon stick to garnish

HOW TO PREPARE

Rim a coupe glass with cinnamon sugar: wet the rim, then press it into a plate of cinnamon sugar. Do this while your shaker is frosty so the sugar sticks cleanly.
Add the anejo, Irish cream, cinnamon syrup, and cream to a shaker with ice.
Shake until cold and well chilled.
Strain into the rimmed coupe.
Dust with cinnamon or nutmeg and add a cinnamon stick. Serve.

Style of Glass to use

Coupe Glass

Garnishes

Cinnamon/Nutmeg Dust

Why tequila for Christmas?

Aged anejo tequila spends months or years in oak, which gives it caramel, vanilla, and baking-spice notes, much closer to a spiced rum or a bourbon than to a bright blanco. That warmth is exactly what a holiday cocktail wants. Here it plays against the Irish cream and cinnamon like a cozy nightcap, so it feels festive without tasting like a margarita.

The cinnamon-sugar rim (the trick)

Rim the glass while your shaker is still frosty. Wet the rim with a little cream or a citrus wedge, then press it into a plate of cinnamon sugar (about two parts sugar to one part cinnamon). The cold helps the sugar grip, so you get a clean, even rim that dissolves slowly as you drink.

Cinnamon syrup, and what to swap

Cinnamon syrup is easy to buy, or make your own: simmer equal parts sugar and water with two or three cinnamon sticks for ten minutes, then cool and strain. No Irish cream on hand? Use a splash more cream plus a bar spoon of vanilla, or swap in a horchata cream for a Mexican twist that suits the tequila.

Serve it warm (optional)

For a hot version, gently warm the cream, cinnamon syrup, and a little extra Irish cream in a saucepan, take it off the heat, stir in the anejo (do not boil the alcohol off), and pour into a warmed mug. It becomes a cinnamon tequila nightcap for a cold night.

Make it for a party, and a pumpkin-spice twist

Batch the anejo, Irish cream, cinnamon syrup, and cream at the same ratio in a bottle and keep it cold; shake each serving over ice to order so it stays frothy. For a festive variation, swap the cinnamon syrup for pumpkin spice syrup, which turns it into a pumpkin-spice sleigh ride.

Non-alcoholic version

Skip the tequila and Irish cream, use a non-alcoholic cream liqueur or extra cream with vanilla, keep the cinnamon syrup and the rim, and you have a kid-friendly cinnamon cream that still feels like Christmas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you make a Christmas cocktail with tequila?

Yes. Aged anejo tequila has warm caramel and baking-spice notes that suit the holidays. This creamy cinnamon cocktail is a festive, dessert-leaning alternative to eggnog.

What is in a Cinnamon Sugar Sleigh Ride?

Anejo tequila, Irish cream, cinnamon syrup, and cream, shaken and served in a cinnamon-sugar-rimmed coupe with a dusting of cinnamon or nutmeg.

How do I get the cinnamon-sugar rim to stick?

Rim the glass while your shaker is frosty. Wet the rim with cream or citrus, press it into cinnamon sugar, and the cold helps it grip evenly.

What can I use instead of Irish cream?

A splash more cream with vanilla, or a horchata cream for a Mexican twist that pairs naturally with tequila.

Can I serve it warm?

Yes. Warm the cream and syrups gently, stir in the anejo off the heat so you keep the alcohol, and serve in a warmed mug as a cinnamon nightcap.

Can I make it ahead for a party?

Batch the spirits, syrup, and cream cold, then shake each serving over ice to order so it stays frothy. Swap in pumpkin spice syrup for a seasonal variation.

Is there a non-alcoholic version?

Yes. Use a non-alcoholic cream liqueur or cream with vanilla, keep the cinnamon syrup and rim, and it stays festive without the alcohol.