Looking for a captivating holiday cocktail that’s just as festive in appearance as in taste? Then the Mistletoe Kiss Cocktail is the one for you as the recipe is perfect for any holiday season by altering the garnishes slightly.
Here’s what you can expect: As soon as you’re taking a sip of the vibrant, ruby-red concoction, you’re greeted by various refreshing aromas of citrus, rosemary or mint. Tart cranberry juice dances on your tongue as it’s hugging the smooth, clean taste of vodka, before it’s balanced elegantly by a sweet, citrusy triple sec – this potion will make each sip irrevocable.
Best part? It’s super easy and fast to make.
How to Mix the Perfect Mistletoe Kiss Cocktail
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Vodka: 2 ounces
- 2 oz Cranberry Juice
- 1 oz Triple Sec (or any orange-flavored liqueur)
- 1/2 oz Fresh Lime Juice
- 1/2 oz Simple Syrup (adjust to taste)
- Splash Club Soda
- Ice Cubes
- Garnish: Fresh cranberries, a sprig of rosemary, and a lime wheel
Alternative Ingredients:
- Vodka – Gin, white rum
- Cranberry Juice – Pomegranate juice, cherry juice, or a cranberry juice blend.
- Triple Sec – Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or for a non-alcoholic option, orange juice
- Lime Juice – Lemon juice, or for a sweeter twist, use orange juice.
- Simple Syrup – Honey, agave syrup, ginger syrup, or a sugar-free sweetener for a lower-calorie option.
- Club Soda – Tonic water, sparkling water, or ginger ale
- Garnishes – Orange slices, lemon twists, pomegranate seeds, fresh ginger, or fresh herbs like thyme or basil.
While we encourage you to take what you have available and this cocktail offers enough flexibility for experimenting, keep in mind that depending on what you use it could alter the taste and flavor profile.
Step-by-Step Mix:
Step 1: To rim your cocktail glass, rub a lime wedge around the rim of it and dip it in sugar to rim it – then store your glass either in the freezer for a few minutes or for longer in the fridge.
Step 2: Use a cocktail shaker and add vodka, cranberry juice, tipple sex, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup to it before filling it with ice cubes and shaking it vigorously to get the entire mixture chilled.
Step 3: Once everything is chilled, strain your cocktail into the chilled cocktail glass filled with ice cubes and top it off with a splash of soda to add a bit of fizz – finally, garnishing it with fresh cranberries, a sprig of rosemary, and a lime wheel on the rim.
Enjoy!
Mocktail Mistletoe Kiss Recipe
Here’s the mocktail version:
- 3 oz Cranberry Juice
- 1 oz Orange Juice (freshly squeezed for the best flavor)
- 1/2 oz Lime Juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1/2 oz Simple Syrup (adjust according to taste)
- Club Soda or Sparkling Water (to top off)
- Ice Cubes
- Garnish: Fresh cranberries, rosemary sprig, and a lime wedge
To mix it, prepare your cocktail glass either in the freezer for a few minutes or longer in the fridge, before you rim the glass by running a lime slice around the edge of it and dip it into sugar. Then use a shaker or mixing glass and combine all ingredients into it before you shake it vigorously – if you don’t have a shaker, simply stir the ingredients in your glass heavily to mix well. Fill your chilled glass with ice cubes and pour the juice mixture over the ice into the glass – top off with club soda or sparkling water for a fizzy touch before garnishing it to your liking.
Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Adjust the sweetness of your cocktail by adjusting the simple syrup amount based on how sweet you like your cocktails.
- Add a splash of grenadine for a deeper red color and some added sweetness.
- Past the Christmas holidays? No worries. Use this recipe to create Valentines’ Day inspired cocktails by changing your garnishings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Got questions? We’ve got the answers!
How Do You Make a Mistletoe Kiss Cocktail?
To mix a Mistletoe Kiss Cocktail, add 2 oz of vodka, 2 oz of cranberry juice, 1 oz of triple sec, 1/2 oz of lime juice, and 1/2 oz of simple syrup into a shaker with ice before shaking it vigorously to get everything chilled. Once chilled, add it to a chilled cocktail glass filled with ice cubes and optionally, top with club soda – lastly, garnish it with cranberries, lime, and a sprig of rosemary or mint.
Can You Prepare Mistletoe Kiss Cocktails in Advance?
While it’s best to make cocktails fresh, you could premix the cocktail without the soda at the end and keep it chilled in the fridge, then add the soda right before you garnish and serve.
What Food Pairs Well with a Mistletoe Kiss Cocktail?
The Mistletoe Kiss Cocktail is delicious without overpowering, this means you can serve it with holiday appetizers like cheese charcuteries, bruschetta, or shrimp cocktail.
Can You Use Frozen Cranberries for Garnish?
While fresh cranberries are best, using frozen cranberries or preparing ice cubes with cranberries inside as garnish can be an attractive option to keep it visually aesthetic while also cooling your drink.
Mistletoe Kiss Cocktail Recipe | Perfect & Spiced
Ingredients
- 2 oz Vodka: 2 ounces
- 2 oz Cranberry Juice
- 1 oz Triple Sec or any orange-flavored liqueur
- 1/2 oz Fresh Lime Juice
- 1/2 oz Simple Syrup adjust to taste
- Splash Club Soda
- Ice Cubes
- Garnish: Fresh cranberries a sprig of rosemary, and a lime wheel
Instructions
- To rim your cocktail glass, rub a lime wedge around the rim of it and dip it in sugar to rim it – then store your glass either in the freezer for a few minutes or for longer in the fridge.
- Use a cocktail shaker and add vodka, cranberry juice, tipple sex, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup to it before filling it with ice cubes and shaking it vigorously to get the entire mixture chilled.
- Once everything is chilled, strain your cocktail into the chilled cocktail glass filled with ice cubes and top it off with a splash of soda to add a bit of fizz – finally, garnishing it with fresh cranberries, a sprig of rosemary, and a lime wheel on the rim.