Get ready to spread some holiday cheer with this Holly Jolly Christmas Citrus Cocktail Pitcher! It’s a bright, bubbly, and incredibly refreshing drink perfect for serving a crowd during the festive season. This easy pitcher cocktail combines smooth vodka, elegant elderflower liqueur, fresh citrus juice (like clementine or blood orange!), and spicy ginger beer, all garnished beautifully with pomegranate arils and herbs. Although it might feel like the holidays are far away right now in early April, I always like planning ahead, and this is definitely a recipe worth saving! It’s simple to mix up, looks stunning, and tastes absolutely delicious – a guaranteed hit for your Christmas gatherings.
Why You’ll Love This Holly Jolly Christmas Cocktail
- Perfect for Parties: This recipe is designed for a pitcher, making it ideal for serving guests at holiday parties without playing bartender all night.
- Festive Flavors: The combination of citrus, ginger beer, and pomegranate creates a bright and festive flavor profile perfect for Christmas.
- Easy to Make: Just stir the base ingredients together and top with ginger beer before serving – so simple!
- Elegant Presentation: With the vibrant colors and pretty garnishes, this cocktail looks incredibly elegant and festive.
- Refreshing: Unlike some heavy holiday drinks, this citrus cocktail is light and refreshing.
Ingredients for Holly Jolly Christmas Citrus Cocktail Pitcher
Here’s what you’ll need to make this festive pitcher cocktail. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Cocktail
- Vodka (Liquor)
- St. Germain (elderflower liquor) (Liqueur)
- Fresh squeezed clementine or blood orange juice (Juice)
- Ginger beers (Soda)
- Fresh thyme sprigs or mint leaves (Herb)
- Arils from Pomegranate (Fruit)
- Ice (Ice)
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)
Variations
I love this Holly Jolly Christmas Citrus Cocktail as is, but here are a few ideas for variations:
- Different Citrus: Use fresh orange juice, grapefruit juice, or even a mix instead of clementine or blood orange.
- Add Cranberry: Add a splash of cranberry juice for extra tartness and color.
- Different Spirit: Try gin or a light rum instead of vodka.
- Make it Spicier: Use a spicier ginger beer or add a few slices of fresh ginger to the pitcher.
- Non-Alcoholic Version: Omit the vodka and St. Germain. Add extra citrus juice and top with more ginger beer or sparkling water for a festive Holly Jolly Christmas Mocktail.
How to Make a Holly Jolly Christmas Citrus Cocktail Pitcher
Let me show you how easy it is to make this crowd-pleasing Holly Jolly Christmas Citrus Cocktail Pitcher:
Combine Base Ingredients
- In a large pitcher, I combine the vodka, St. Germain elderflower liquor (if using), and the fresh clementine or blood orange juice.
- I stir these base ingredients together.
Chill (Optional but Recommended)
- At this point, I chill the pitcher in the refrigerator until I’m ready to serve. This helps keep the final drink nice and cold.
Add Bubbles and Garnish Before Serving
- Just before serving, I add ice to the pitcher.
- I pour in the ginger beer.
- I add the pomegranate arils and the fresh thyme sprigs or mint leaves.
- I stir gently just to combine everything without losing too much fizz.
Serve
- Serve in glasses.
Tips and Tricks for the BEST Pitcher Cocktail
Here are my secrets for making this festive drink truly exceptional:
- Use Fresh Citrus Juice: Freshly squeezed juice makes a huge difference in flavor compared to bottled juice.
- Chill Everything: Ensure the vodka, liqueur, juice, and especially the ginger beer are well-chilled before mixing for the coldest, most refreshing cocktail.
- Add Ginger Beer Last: Wait until just before serving to add the ginger beer to maintain maximum fizziness.
- Don’t Over-Stir: Stir gently after adding the ginger beer to avoid making it go flat.
- Pretty Garnishes: The pomegranate arils and herb sprigs make this Holly Jolly Christmas Citrus Cocktail look extra special.
How to Serve
This Holly Jolly Christmas Citrus Cocktail Pitcher is perfect for:
- Christmas Parties: The ideal make-ahead cocktail for holiday entertaining.
- Holiday Brunches: A light and festive brunch beverage.
- New Year’s Eve: A bubbly and celebratory drink to ring in the new year.
- Winter Gatherings: A refreshing option for any winter get-together.
Serve chilled in festive glasses (like wine glasses or highball glasses) filled with ice.
Make Ahead and Storage
You can mix the base ingredients (vodka, St. Germain, citrus juice) ahead of time and store the pitcher, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Add the ice, ginger beer, and garnishes just before serving. Leftovers (though unlikely!) can be stored in the fridge, but the drink will lose its carbonation over time.
FAQs about Holly Jolly Christmas Citrus Cocktail
- What kind of ginger beer should I use?
- Choose a good quality ginger beer with a noticeable ginger spice. Brands vary in sweetness and intensity, so pick one you enjoy.
- Can I use regular orange juice?
- Yes, regular fresh orange juice works well if you can’t find clementines or blood oranges.
- Is St. Germain necessary?
- St. Germain adds a unique floral sweetness. You can omit it, but the cocktail’s flavor profile will change. You could add a touch more simple syrup or honey if desired for sweetness.
Enjoy this bright, bubbly, and festive Holly Jolly Christmas Citrus Cocktail Pitcher! It’s the perfect easy drink to share during the holiday season.
Print
Holly Jolly Citrus Pitcher Cocktail
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Chill Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 1x
- Category: Drinks, Cocktails, Holiday, Christmas
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Holly Jolly Christmas Citrus Cocktail is a bright, bubbly, and festive pitcher drink perfect for holiday entertaining. It combines vodka, elderflower liqueur, fresh citrus juice, and spicy ginger beer, garnished with pomegranate seeds and fresh herbs.
Ingredients
- 1 cup vodka
- 1/2 cup St-Germain elderflower liqueur (or other elderflower liqueur)
- 1 1/2 cups fresh squeezed clementine juice or blood orange juice
- 2 (12-ounce) bottles good-quality ginger beer, chilled
- 1 cup pomegranate arils (seeds)
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme or fresh mint leaves, for garnish
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Combine Base Ingredients: In a large pitcher, combine the vodka, St-Germain elderflower liqueur, and freshly squeezed clementine (or blood orange) juice. Stir gently.
- Chill: Cover the pitcher and refrigerate until well-chilled and ready to serve (at least 30 minutes, or up to a few hours). Chilling the base mixture ensures the final cocktail is cold without needing excessive ice, which can dilute the drink.
- Assemble Just Before Serving: Just before serving, fill the pitcher with ice cubes. Pour in the chilled ginger beer. Add the pomegranate arils.
- Stir Gently: Stir the mixture gently with a long spoon to combine, being careful not to stir out too much carbonation from the ginger beer.
- Serve: Pour the cocktail into individual glasses filled with ice. Garnish each glass with a sprig of fresh thyme or mint.
Notes
- Citrus Juice: Freshly squeezed clementine or blood orange juice provides the best flavor. Regular orange juice can be substituted.
- Elderflower Liqueur: St-Germain is a popular brand, but other elderflower liqueurs can be used. It adds a lovely floral note.
- Ginger Beer: Use a good-quality ginger beer with a nice spice level. Ginger ale is not a direct substitute, as it’s much less spicy.
- Chilling: Chilling the vodka/liqueur/juice mixture and the ginger beer beforehand is recommended.
- Make-Ahead: Prepare the base mixture (vodka, liqueur, juice) and chill it ahead of time. Add the ice, ginger beer, and garnishes just before serving to maintain freshness and carbonation.
- Serving: Serve in festive glasses like highballs or wine glasses.
- Storage: This pitcher cocktail is best enjoyed shortly after mixing due to the carbonation.