Holly Jolly Christmas Cocktail

square photo of a glass with the red cocktail with thyme, rosemary, and pomegranate seeds

Holly Jolly Christmas Cocktail

Kick off the holiday season in style with this Holly Jolly Christmas cocktail recipe. Made with orange vodka, elderberry liqueur, blood orange juice, and ginger beer, this delicious cocktail is as refreshing as it is festive.

Course Cocktail

Cuisine American

Keyword holiday cocktail, holly jolly christmas cocktail, holly jolly cocktail

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings cocktails

Calories 203kcal

Author Elaine Benoit

Equipment

Ingredients

4 ounces orange vodka
2 ounces elderberry liqueur
4 ounces blood orange juice
4 ounces ginger beer (divided - this is approximate, you will add it to the glasses after you've poured the liquid in the glasses)

Garnish (optional)

2 sprigs rosemary (fresh)
2 sprigs thyme (fresh)
3 teaspoons pomegranate arils (2 - 4 teaspoons)

Instructions

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice cubes. Get a measuring glass and the garnish.
Add vodka, elderberry liqueur, and blood orange juice.
4 ounces orange vodka, 2 ounces elderberry liqueur, 4 ounces blood orange juice
Add arils to the glasses and top them with fresh ice to the glasses.
3 teaspoons pomegranate arils
Cap shaker and vigorously shake for 15 seconds. Divide, strain, and pour the liquid between the two glasses.
Add enough ginger beer to the glasses to top them off.
4 ounces ginger beer
Add one sprig of rosemary and thyme to each glass
2 sprigs rosemary, 2 sprigs thyme
Sip
Smile
Enjoy

Notes

Helpful tips

Nothing says "holiday drink" like using a nice sprig of rosemary as garnish.
I also like to garnish this cocktail with pomegranate arils, so I bought the packaged seeds at Trader Joe's for convenience. You can also get a fresh pomegranate and remove the seeds yourself.
Fresh thyme is also one of my go-to cocktail garnishes. I'm a fan of lots of sprigs, but you don't have to use as many as I did.
Even though the holly jolly cocktail doesn't have cranberry juice in it, spearing some cranberries on a martini pick and balancing them on the rim of the glass is also a nice choice of garnish.
I love to use big ice cubes in this cocktail as they take longer to melt. Here is the tray I use.
I use St. Germain in this cocktail, but you can use any elderflower liquor.
If you can't find blood orange juice, you can squeeze your own. I get this freshly squeezed juice at Whole Foods.
As alternatives to blood orange juice, you could also substitute store bought orange juice, clementine juice, or any freshly squeezed citrus juice.
I use homemade orange infused vodka since it is so easy to make. If you don't have time to make your own, it's perfectly fine to use store bought. I'm not a fan of artificially flavored alcohol because I don't know the ingredients.
You will be adding all the ingredients EXCEPT the ginger beer to the cocktail shaker. The beer will be added after you divide the liquid between the glasses.

Nutrition