I’m so excited to start this 12 Drinks of Christmas series! I’m sharing a new drink recipe every Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday from Thanksgiving ’til Christmas. Thursday drinks are family-friendly favorites; the rest of the week is cocktails, mulled wines, sangrias, and all sorts of boozy party goodies to celebrate the season. Cheers!
Just the color of the drink makes a stunning statement on the table, and simple garnishes can take it over the top.
I like to use a mix of whole cranberries and halved cranberries for their pretty clover shapes. Whole rosemary sprigs are the perfect stirrers if the stems are straight-ish enough.
This drink mellows out nicely over time, so don’t be afraid to make it a few hours before the party. If it’s a bit strong for anyone, just pour the drink over seltzer water to tone it down & add some bubbles.
Next up: the richest, creamiest hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows! It might be just the thing to leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve.
12 Drinks of Christmas
Mistletoe Kiss Cocktail
Ingredients
For One Drink
- 2 oz. white rum
- 1/2 oz. lime juice
- 1 oz. cranberry rosemary simple syrup recipe below
- 2 T. fresh cranberries for garnish
- rosemary sprig for garnish
For a Pitcher
- 2 cups white rum
- 1/2 cup lime juice
- 1 cup cranberry rosemary simple syrup recipe below
- 1 cup fresh cranberries for garnish
- rosemary sprigs for garnish
Cranberry Rosemary Simple Syrup
- 2 cups cranberries
- 2-3 sprigs rosemary
- 1 cup water
- 3/4 cup sugar
Instructions
For One Drink
- Shake rum, lime juice, and cranberry rosemary simple syrup with ice.
- Strain into a glass over ice. Garnish with fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary.
For a Pitcher
- Stir rum, lime juice, and cranberry rosemary simple syrup together in a large punch bowl.
- Add 1-2 cups ice to chill. Garnish with fresh cranberries and a few sprigs of rosemary.
Cranberry Rosemary Simple Syrup
- Add all ingredients to a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Cook until cranberries are soft but haven't burst open, about 10 minutes.
- Let cool, then strain through a fine sieve.
We’ve found a new holiday drink to go with egg nog and mulled wine! The great thing is the syrup is very easy if you’re familiar with making cranberry sauce. For some reason, I never thought of the smell and taste of rosemary as being pine-tree-like, but it definitely brings a Christmas-like quality to this drink that would otherwise taste like a Thanksgiving drink.
I substituted sparking apple cider for the rum in the pitcher, at double the amount of the rum. That basically gave us a pitcher of non-alcoholic Christmas cheer that everyone, adults and kids alike, could drink from, and anybody who wanted the full cocktail version (like me and my wife) just put about 75% from the pitcher in our glass and topped up the remaining 25% with white Bacardi or spiced Sailor Jerry Rums (Sailor Jerry is my favorite). Also, I cut the cranberries added to the pitcher in half, like in the picture, to add some extra awesome cranberry flavor as the drink sat on the table.