The Mistletoe Kiss (Christmas Cocktail)

The Mistletoe Kiss is one of those Christmas cocktails for the ages and it’s perfect to kick off the holiday season, even as a Thanksgiving cocktail! Made with vodka, lemon juice, sparkling water or soda, and a special and incredibly easy simple syrup that ties the whole drink together, you’ll be making this holiday drink every year!

Friends! I have such an exciting recipe for you this holiday season!!

IT’S A CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL RECIPE!!

Can you even believe it?? The last time I posted a cocktail recipe was in 2010.

Almost 15 years ago! Where’s that embarrassed wide-eyed emoji when you need it?

Why You’ll Love This Christmas Cocktail

When it comes to choosing the perfect drink for your holiday party or cozy winter night at home, I know how important it is to you to get it right the first time. No one likes to waste ingredients!

So, here are a few BIG reasons why you’ll love The Mistletoe Kiss more than any other Christmas cocktail…

• It’s a Make Ahead Cocktail!: Whip up a batch of these drinks hours before party time and have a cold pitcher ready when your guests arrive. Instructions for this are in the recipe card below!
• Winter Herbs: The rosemary simple syrup beautifully balances the tart lemon and bite of the vodka. It gives the drink a refreshingly sweet and herbal note and it really brings it home to remind you that it’s the holidays.
• Batch Size: You can make just a couple drinks for two people or make a giant batch of the drink for lots of friends and family.
• The Pucker Factor: There’s just enough lemon juice in these Mistletoe Kiss drinks to make you pucker up to your Christmas love next to the Christmas tree or you know…under the mistletoe! And that’s without being all like, “Woah! There’s too much lemon here!”

…..

That holiday cocktail recipe was those cranberry lime bellinis that I contributed to Annie’s virtual Christmas party. (Do you remember when those virtual parties were a thing??)

They were a delicious combination of champagne, cranberry and lime juice with fresh cranberries floating on top.

Vodka Cocktail Inspiration

One of my favorite drinks since I turned drinking age in 199-ahem (lol) is a simple vodka and cranberry. So while we’re on the topic, let me tell you that I probably will never turn down a drink with vodka in it.

I don’t drink vodka often – gin is my actual preference when it comes to spirits – but I love vodka because it’s sort of like the blank palate of the drink world.

It goes so well with lots of flavors, especially fresh herbs!

Enter The Mistletoe Kiss. And pucker up, my friends! Pucker up!

Mistletoe Kiss Ingredients

This delicious drink is a delightful mixture of some really simple ingredients. Here’s the basic grocery store and liquor store list you’ll need for this Christmas cocktail. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full Ingredients list!

• vodka
• club soda
• fresh lemon juice
• my new secret ingredient: rosemary simple syrup
• a sprig of rosemary
• fresh cranberries

How to Make A Mistletoe Kiss

You won’t believe how easy it is to make the best of all Christmas cocktail recipes this holiday season! 

STEP 1: First you’ll need a flavor base and that’s the rosemary simple syrup. This is my secret ingredient for truly getting me in the holiday spirit with this drink.

The simple syrup is just what it sounds like too. It’s simple to make with equal parts of water and sugar that you’ll boil for 5 minutes. Then you’ll drop a sprig of rosemary into the hot syrup. The fresh rosemary will infuse the simple syrup with loads of herby flavor.

STEP 2: Once cooled, you’ll mix the rosemary simple syrup with vodka and fresh lemon juice. You can do this in a cocktail shaker or in a tall glass.

STEP 3: Pour the vodka mixture into an ice-filled glass and then pour in some bubbly club soda.

STEP 4: Lastly, float some fresh cranberries on top of the drink and add a sprig of rosemary to stir it all up. Now you’ve got yourself the perfect festive cocktail!

How to Make a Big Batch of Mistletoe Kiss Drinks

If you’re having a crowd for a Christmas tree trimming party or for your next holiday party this season, you’re going to want to make a large batch of these Mistletoe Kiss drinks. And it’s SO simple to do! Here’s what you’ll do:

1. First, you’re going to make a batch of the rosemary simple syrup. It’s easy! Boil equal parts of sugar and water for 5 minutes then toss in a sprig of rosemary to steep and release its flavor into the syrup. Cool completely. You can make this up to 2 weeks in advance too!
2. Then, ready a large pitcher. Scale up the recipe in the recipe card below to account for how many servings you want to make. Pour scaled amount of in the vodka, lemon juice, rosemary simple syrup and stir well.
3. Pour the drinks into ice-filled rocks glasses – only 3/4 of the way full though. You’ll need room for the club soda.
4. Top the drink off with club soda, a few cranberries, and a sprig of rosemary to use as a stirrer.

Can I Make a Big Batch In Advance?

You can certainly prepare the this fun cocktails in the pitcher a few hours in advance of your party and keep it in the fridge until your guests arrive. Just be sure to add the club soda to the glasses as you serve these drinks!

This will ensure the Mistletoe Kisses are super cold and it will majorly simplify your life during the holiday party when you would prefer to be mingling and eating rather than pouring individual drinks.

Mistletoe Kiss FAQs

• Q: “Can I use bottled lemon juice?” A: I definitely don’t recommend using bottled lemon juice for this recipe. In my opinion, what you make deserves the freshest ingredients and bottled lemon juice lacks all of the bright and bold flavor that you get from a fresh lemon.
• Q: “Where are the large batch directions?” A: Please scroll down to the printable recipe card below for both small and large batch directions.

Now, what are you waiting for? Go crack open that bottle of vodka, grab the mistletoe, and pucker up, my friends!

Other Christmas Cocktail Recipes for Your Next Holiday Party

If you’re looking for another festive Christmas cocktail, I’ve got you covered there too! Here are some of my very favorite boozy beverages for this time of year.

White Russians were one of my dad’s favorite holiday cocktails and I can’t help but stir some Khalua, vodka, and heavy cream together for this cozy drink on a cold night.

Another easy cocktail that works just as well for decorating the tree as it does on Christmas morning (either before or after your morning coffee) is a simple glass of eggnog with a little pour of Baileys Irish cream and sprinkle of cinnamon on top.

If you’re a chocolate peppermint fan, you’ll love my Peppermint Mochatini with a swizzle swirl of chocolate sauce around the inside of the glass.

Fans of summer will rejoice with The Jack Frost, made with rum, pineapple juice, blue Curacao, and coconut cream. It’s a winter cocktail that will help you feel like a little bit of summer has happened in the middle of the dark winter days.

For a more classic cocktail during the holidays, you’ll love my Cranberry Lime Bellini served in tall and elegant champagne glasses.

Are margaritas more your style? Then you really should try a Christmas margarita! It’s made with cranberry, pomegranate, and lime juices, tequila, and orange liqueur like triple sec and it’s soooo good!

If you still have some apple cider hiding in the back of your fridge (you know who you are!), use the rest up in these Hot Bourbon Apple Cider cocktails. Don’t forget the orange slices for flavor and garnish!

At this time of year, you may basically need all of them in your life!

Continue to Content

The Mistletoe Kiss Cocktail

Yield: Small batch: 2 drinks | Large batch: 10 drinks

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 7 minutes

Total Time: 12 minutes

This is a holiday drink for the ages with vodka, lemon juice, and a special and insanely easy simple syrup that ties the whole drink together. Large batch recipe is included below for your holiday parties!

4.5 Stars (356 Reviews)

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Ingredients

For the rosemary simple syrup*:

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• ½ cup water
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 sprig rosemary

For a small batch:

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• 6 oz vodka (I love Tito's)
• 1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 oz rosemary simple syrup
• Club soda
• Handful of fresh cranberries (whole frozen berries are ok)
• 2 sprigs of rosemary

For a large batch:

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• 30 oz vodka (3 ¾ cups or approx 1 liter from which you'll have a couple ounces leftover)
• 5 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 10 oz (1 ¼ cups) rosemary simple syrup (triple the recipe above)
• 1 liter club soda
• ½ bag of fresh cranberries (whole frozen berries are ok)
• 10 sprigs of rosemary

Instructions

To make the rosemary simple syrup: Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan set over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil while stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Allow the mixture to boil for 5 minutes then remove from the heat and drop in the sprig of rosemary. Allow the rosemary to steep for about 15 minutes and then discard the rosemary. Pour the simple syrup into a glass jar or bottle, cool to room temperature, cover, and refrigerate.

To make a small batch: Pour vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup into a drink shaker filled with ice. Cover and shake well to blend. Divide drink mix between 2 rocks glasses filled with ice, straining the ice from the shaker as you pour. You'll only want to fill the glasses ¾-full. Top with club soda and a few cranberries for garnish. Add a sprig of rosemary to use as a stirrer.

To make a large batch: Pour vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup into a pitcher filled with ice and stir well to combine.

When ready to serve, pour the drink mix into an ice-filled rocks glass to ¾-full. Top each drink with club soda and a few cranberries for garnish. Add a sprig of rosemary to each drink as they are served to use as a stirrer.

If you make the large batch before your guests arrive, be sure to keep the pitcher in the fridge to ensure the drinks are icy cold when they arrive.

Notes

*The rosemary simple syrup recipe above will make more than you need for a small batch but the leftovers will store well in an airtight container, like a mason jar, in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Party Time Tips: If you plan to serve this drink at a party, here are a few tips for party prep:

1. Print out instructions so your guests know how to assemble the drinks and post at your drink station. There is a Print Recipe button towards the top of this recipe box.
2. Ready an ice bucket filled with ice as well as drink glasses so guests can help themselves to drinks from the pitcher.
3. Have a small bowl of cranberries ready to go.
4. Stand the rosemary sprigs up in a small glass.

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