18 German Cocktail Recipes to Celebrate Oktoberfest in Style

German cocktails to celebrate Oktoberfest? Das ist gut, Schatz! The Mixer has been gearing up for the world’s largest Volksfest, and we’ve rounded up a tasty list of some of the best traditional and modern German drinks around. So, grab a cocktail shaker, don a dirndl if you dare, and let’s bring on the gaudi!  

1. Radler

A Radler is the German version of a beer shandy. One of those traditional German cocktails everyone loves, it  combines a lighter style of beer, like a lager, with sparkling lemonade or lemon-lime soda. This balanced mix makes it an ideal beverage for a warm day. Simply add 240 ml of light beer and 240 ml of sparkling lemonade or soda water to a pint glass, stir briefly, and serve.  

Beer lovers, this way: 10 Beer Cocktails for the Win 

2. Bourbon Radler

If you like your shandy drinks with a bit of a kick, the Bourbon Radler is a German mixed drink you’ve got to try. Simply add 30 ml of bourbon to the classic recipe and give it a stir. Easy does it! We also love adding some fresh lemon slices as garnish.   

Wild Turkey 101 is a great fit for a Bourbon Radler thanks to its bold flavour and higher proof, which stands up beautifully to the light, citrussy notes of the shandy. Its rich caramel and vanilla undertones add depth and balance to the drink, making it an easy yet satisfying twist on a classic Radler. 

Stay cozy: 9 of the Best Bourbon Winter Cocktails to Warm the Soul

3. Bavarian Coffee

Bavarian Coffee is a decadent German schnapps cocktail made with brewed coffee, peppermint schnapps, cream, and coffee liqueur. In a mug, combine half a cup of strong, freshly brewed coffee, 15 ml peppermint schnapps, 15 ml coffee liqueur, 1 teaspoon white sugar, and 30 ml full cream milk or cream. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then top with a dollop of whipped cream and a few chocolate shavings or sprinkles if you’re feeling indulgent.   

You might also like: 9 Best Coffee Cocktails to End Your Evening with a Kick 

4. Brandy Vermouth cocktail

If you love a classic Manhattan, this famous German cocktail should be on your radar for sure. Also called an Asbach Manhattan, as a tip of the hat to a famous brand of German brandy, this classy cocktail combines 30 ml brandy, 30 ml Cinzano Vermouth Rosso, and 1 dash of bitters. Combine all the ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.  

Read next: Manhattan vs. Old Fashioned Cocktail: What is the Difference? 

5. Glühwein

This warm German wine drink is a winter staple across Germany, Austria and parts of Switzerland. Often enjoyed as an after-skiing drink, it’s a great winter cocktail to make in batches.   

Combine a cup of water, a cup of sugar, and one cinnamon stick in a saucepan; bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to low. Cut one orange in half and squeeze both orange halves over the sugar mixture to release their juice. Push five cloves into the outside of each orange peel and place it in the simmering mixture. Continue to simmer over low heat until thick and syrupy (approximately 20 to 30 minutes).   

When the mixture is finished simmering, stir in one bottle of red wine and heat until steaming (around 3 to 5 minutes). Discard the orange peels and cinnamon sticks. Ladle into mugs and garnish with fresh orange slices.  

6. Chilled Spiced Apple Beer Punch

Apple cocktails are perfect for autumn, and this Apple Spiced Beer Punch is a great batch drink to whip up when you’re serving a thirsty crowd. In a medium-size saucepan add three apples (cored and sliced), 0.5 cup sugar, the juice of one lemon, two cinnamon sticks, and two whole cloves. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.   

Lower the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is completely dissolved, about 3-5 minutes. Let the mixture cool completely, then stir in two cans of light beer (a lager works well) and fresh lemon slices. Serve this German beer cocktail chilled.  

7. Swimming Pool cocktail

Germany might not be known as a beach holiday destination, but this easy sipper will give you a taste of the country’s fun-loving side. It’s a German cocktail with vodka that boasts a dreamy turquoise blue colour. 

To make, add 30 ml SKYY vodka, 30 ml Wray & Nephew rum, 15 ml coconut milk, 15 ml sweetened condensed milk, and 60 ml pineapple juice to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a serving glass. Add 30 ml blue curaçao directly to the glass, garnish with a wedge of fresh pineapple and a maraschino cherry, and serve. If you’re feeling very fancy, you can also rim the glass with coconut milk and shredded coconut beforehand.  

More tropical treats: Piña Colada | Blue Hawaiian  

8. Kirsch Royale

Kirschwasser or kirsch, is a clear, colourless brandy traditionally made from the double distillation of morello cherries, a dark-coloured cultivar of the sour cherry. It’s used in a Kirsch Royale, one of the festive German mixed drinks that’s super easy to serve. Just add 15 ml kirsch and 30 ml cherry syrup to a champagne flute. Top off with 90 ml of Champagne or Prosecco, garnish with a maraschino cherry if desired, and serve.  

Keep it bubbly! French Champagne Cocktail | Grand Mimosa | Champagne Martini 

9. Eierlikör (German Egg Liqueur)

Thick, sweet, and creamy, German Egg Liqueur (Eierlikör) is a delicious German cocktail recipe for the festive season, made with egg yolks, cream, and rum. This differs slightly from Eggnog, which calls for whole eggs, cream, and milk. The recipe is a little tricky, but 100% worth it.  

Separate four eggs and add the yolks to a medium-sized mixing bowl. Add one cup of powdered sugar and half a teaspoon of vanilla extract and mix with an electric hand mixer or a whisk until it has a creamy consistency. Mix in half a cup of whipping cream and keep whisking. Now slowly pour in half a cup of rum while still whisking vigorously. Did someone say arm-day?   

Once the mixture froths, place the bowl in a hot water bath on the stovetop and keep whisking for a few minutes until thick and creamy. This works best if you fill a shallow, medium-sized pot with hot water and place your mixing bowl into the water. Make sure that the water in the pot is hot but not boiling since you don’t want the egg liqueur to start bubbling and lose its alcohol.   

Pour the egg liqueur into glasses to sip right away or into sanitised bottles to keep for later. If you use clean equipment and fresh eggs, the egg liqueur should keep in the fridge for around four months.  

More creamy goodness: Classic Eggnog | Vegan Eggnog | Dairy-Free Eggnog 

10. Sloe Gin Holler

If you love a Sloe Gin Fizz, here’s a recipe with a slight twist. Mash up 9 raspberries, which should give you about 15 ml of raspberry puree. Pour 45 ml of sloe gin and 45 ml of lime juice into a chilled glass. Add the raspberry puree, mix well, and top off with soda water. Decorate with three fresh raspberries. Serve and enjoy.  

11. Gin Basil Smash

Drinks like the Strawberry Basil cocktail have been enjoying the limelight lately, and this Gin Basil Smash plays in the same fresh, herbaceous space. Place 8-10 basil leaves in a cocktail shaker and muddle them gently. Add 75 ml Bulldog Gin, 15 ml lemon juice, and 15 ml sugar syrup to the cocktail shaker. Add two handfuls of ice and shake until cold. Strain the drink into an ice-filled lowball glass, top off with a splash of soda water, and garnish your German gin cocktail with a few fresh basil leaves.  

12. Nikolaschka

The best cognac cocktails come to the party with a dapper stride, and the Nikolaschka certainly ticks this box. This classic German cocktail is made by pouring 45 ml cognac into a snifter glass, which is then topped with a lemon disc. Put 1 teaspoon of sugar on one side and 1 teaspoon of powdered coffee on the other side of the disc. 

So how do you drink it? Well, you can place the lemon slice on your tongue and then drink the Cognac but keep it in your mouth for 30 seconds before you swallow it. Discard the lemon slice. Or you can drink the Cognac first and then eat the lemon slice that’s been topped with sugar and coffee. 

13. Hüttentee

Did you know? German alcoholic drinks also include tea cocktails. Called Jagertee or Hüttentee, this cozy drink features a combination of rum, black tea, citrus fruit, and winter spices such as cinnamon and cloves.     

Take a stainless-steel pot and add 1 cup of your favourite tea, 1 cup of spiced rum, 1 cup of red wine, 1 cup of plum brandy (or any liqueur you like), 1 cup of orange juice, three whole cloves, a cinnamon stick, and two lemon slices. Heat until simmering, then simmer for another 5 minutes. Take the pot off the heat, add sugar to taste, and stir to dissolve before serving.   

14. Savoy Affair  

How about something a little fruity to add to your line-up of Oktoberfest cocktails? Add 15 ml strawberry liqueur, 15 ml peach brandy, 15 ml lime juice, and 15 ml passion fruit juice to a champagne flute. Top off with 120 ml of Champagne or Prosecco and garnish with a sugar-dipped strawberry before serving. 

Read next: The 10 Best Champagne Cocktails for Any Occasion 

15. Hugo cocktail

If you enjoy light and bubbly German spritz drinks, then this Hugo cocktail recipe is for you. Made with elderflower liqueur, Prosecco, and soda water, it’s a delightful floral spin on the Aperol Spritz, packing a flavourful punch but with a lower ABV. The Hugo cocktail is the perfect after-work drink if you’re living on the lighter side of life. For an extra kick, you can add a bit of Bulldog Gin, but this cocktail is equally delicious without it.   

Keep it floral: 13 Tasty Elderflower Cocktails to Try at Home 

16. German Mule  

Mule cocktails are always a zesty choice, and the German Mule cocktail is such a fun variation on this easy-peasy drink template.  Fill a copper mug or your choice of serving glass with ice cubes. Pour in 45 ml of herbal liqueur (e.g., Jägermeister) and 15 ml lime juice. Top off with ginger beer, garnish with a lime wedge, and enjoy!  

17. German Bowle

German cocktail drinks to serve a crowd? Step right up, besties! The German Bowle wine punch has a storied history that started with British officers in India in the 1800s, and over time wound its way to Deutschland. These days it’s a beloved communal punch often served at German gatherings. It’s especially popular during festive occasions like summer parties and Oktoberfest. 

To make a batch of 20 servings, grab 2 bottles of white wine, 1 bottle of sparkling wine or Champagne, 3⅓ cups of canned mandarins, 3⅓ cups of canned peaches (sliced or whole), 2⅓ cups of canned pineapple bits, 1 cup of brandy (optional), and 0.25 cup of sugar (optional). 

Drain the fruit, saving the juice, then cut the peaches into bite-sized pieces. Combine the fruit in a large bowl, add brandy and sugar if you like, and let it chill for a few hours or overnight. Then stir in the reserved juice and white wine, chill for another 2 hours, and finish with sparkling wine just before serving. Garnish with plenty of fresh fruit. 

No-ABV vibes? Try our Mock Champagne Punch instead 

18. Aperol Spritz cocktail

We bet your German-inspired cocktail bingo card didn’t have the Aperol Spritz on it! While this summery sipper originally hails from Italy, it has become a staple in Germany’s gastronomy scene. It pairs beautifully with iconic German eats like flammkuchen (German pizza-like flatbread) with crème fraîche and onions, and wurstsalat (sausage salad) with a tangy dressing.

Feeling frosty? Try our Frozen Aperol Spritz recipe 

What did we tell you?  It’s quite the line-up of popular German drinks, right?! The Mixer loves taking you on a deep dive into exciting cultures and their gorgeous drinks, so remember to sign up for our newsletter so we can keep you in the loop. In the meantime, visit the SKYY, Bulldog, and Wild Turkey websites to stock up on lecker German cocktail bases. Prost!