Colorful cocktails for the holidays
THIS CONTENT IS POWERED BY: VINEPAIR
WORDS: MARK STOCK
INFOGRAPHIC: DANIELLE GRINBERG
Eye-catching holiday hues aren’t just reserved for lawn decorations and tree trimmings. They can liven up cocktails, too, whether it be a splash of vibrant red cranberry juice or the eye-catching green of a rosemary sprig or bouquet of mint. These additions do more than add color to some of our favorite drinks, they offer complementary flavor as well.
As you prepare for all of the upcoming festivities, consider the following cocktails to add to the holiday repertoire. Like a good holiday sweater, they’ll bring some serious color to the soirée season.
Green Wreath Lemon Drop
Here’s a mean green drink that takes advantage of flavorful matcha. Ketel One’s trademark smoothness and hints of mint complement the lovely bright and vegetal notes of the tea. The green is the work of the matcha powder, which turns this drink to a color, reminiscent of seasonal greenery.
Ingredients
1 oz. Ketel One Vodka
0.25 oz. Matcha Powder
0.25 oz. Simple Syrup
0.5 oz. Lemon Juice
Club Soda
Mint Sprig Garnish
Instructions
1. Combine vodka, matcha, simple syrup and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake and strain into a double rocks or highball glass over fresh ice.
3. Top with club soda and garnish with mint.
Serves 1
Holiday Red Cranberry Margarita
If you want to really show off a good tequila, treat it to some citrus. The acidity in citrus balances out the earthy and savory qualities of the spirit. This time of year, cranberry certainly comes to mind, and it’s more than ready to offer the perfect counterpart – not to mention vibrant color – to Don Julio Blanco Tequila in this well-balanced cocktail. Cranberry is also a great vehicle for imparting a special brand of red that reminds us of holly berries.
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Don Julio Blanco Tequila
2 oz. Cranberry Juice
0.5 oz. Simple Syrup
1 dash Orange Bitters
Skewered Rosemary Sprig and Cranberry Garnish
Instructions
1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake until chilled and strain into a chilled Nick and Nora glass.
3. Skewer a fresh rosemary sprig and cranberry with a cocktail pick to garnish.
Serves 1
Winter Sun Limoncello Martini
This martini riff is holiday-ready, striking a dazzling yellow hue thanks to the addition of limoncello, the nectar of southern Italy. Practically neon in color, this liqueur can be called upon to inject instant sunny tones. A lemon wheel makes the drink decorative, but it’s the addition of edible gold powder that really makes it sparkle.
Ingredients
0.75 oz. Tanqueray No. Ten Gin
0.75 oz. Limoncello
0.5 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
0.25 oz. Simple Syrup
Dehydrated Lemon Wheel Garnish
Edible Gold Powder Garnish (Optional)
Instructions
1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake until chilled and strain into a martini glass.
3. Garnish with a dehydrated lemon wheel and sprinkle with a light dusting of edible gold powder (optional).
Serves 1
Blue Blizzard
This cocktail is a passport to the tropics, with a stunning blue tint and sunny flavors. But since you’re stuck in winter weather, we’re honoring that side, too. Afterall, vacation is a state of mind. The Blue Curacao makes the drink look like a tropical bay while the coconut flake rim looks like freshly fallen snow. If the North Pole had a beach resort, this is its signature drink.
Ingredients
1 oz. Ketel One Vodka
0.75 oz. Blue Curaçao
2 oz. Pineapple Juice
0.5 oz. Lime Juice
1 dash Aromatic Bitters
2 tsp. Simple Syrup
Coconut Flakes Rim
Instructions
1. Add simple syrup to a saucer and dip the rim of a hurricane glass, allowing any excess drip off.
2. Dip the simple syrup-rimmed glass into coconut flakes. Set aside.
3. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
4. Shake vigorously until chilled and strain into the rimmed hurricane glass with crushed ice.
Serves 1