Mistletoe Martini

A Mistletoe Martini deserves a spot at every holiday gathering. The deep red color, fresh cranberry garnish, and hint of rosemary make it a festive and elegant drink. St. Germain adds a floral note that complements the tart cranberry without making the martini too sweet. It’s quick to make and beautiful to serve, this cocktail always feels like a holiday classic.

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This drink pairs well with appetizers like our charcuterie skewers and cranberry brie bites. For a complete cocktail spread, serve it with our cranberry French 75 and cranberry Moscow mule so guests have options.

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

This martini comes together with just a handful of ingredients, most of which you might already have on hand for holiday entertaining.

In the printable recipe below, you can find a complete list of ingredients and measurements.

• Vodka: A clean, neutral vodka works best here since you want the other flavors to shine. Premium vodka will give you a smoother finish, but mid-range vodka works perfectly fine. Gin makes a nice substitute if you prefer a more botanical profile.
• Vermouth: A splash of dry vermouth adds depth and complexity to the cocktail and is standard in martinis. It’s optional, but recommended for a more sophisticated flavor profile. 
• St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur: This French liqueur adds a delicate floral sweetness that makes this cocktail stand out. There’s no perfect substitute, but you could use another elderflower liqueur or even a splash of white vermouth in a pinch. The flavor will be different, though.
• Cranberry Simple Syrup: Homemade cranberry simple syrup gives this cocktail its signature color and tart-sweet flavor. We use our cranberry simple syrup recipe, which simmers equal parts sugar and water with fresh or frozen cranberries until the berries burst and the liquid turns deep red. You can substitute the cranberry simple syrup with a combo of regular simple syrup and 100% cranberry juice, which doesn’t contain any added sugar. 
• Fresh Lime Juice: Always use fresh-squeezed lime juice for cocktails. The bottled stuff just doesn’t compare. Roll your limes on the counter with your palm before juicing to get more juice out.
• Cranberry Bitters: For some added complexity and depth, we add a couple of dashes of cranberry bitters. Angostura or orange bitters can be used as a substitute if you don’t have cranberry bitters. Please note that the flavor profile will shift slightly.
• Garnish: Fresh cranberries and mint, or rosemary, aren’t just for decoration. They add a subtle aroma that makes each sip more enjoyable. Rosemary gives a more wintry, pine-like scent that we love.

How to Make a Mistletoe Martini

Here are the quick, step-by-step instructions with visuals; you can find the full instructions, including the exact ingredients, in the recipe card below.

Pro-tip: Chill your martini glasses in the freezer for at least 15 minutes before making the cocktail. A cold glass keeps your martini at the perfect temperature longer.

1. Prepare Your Shaker: Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Using plenty of ice is important because it chills the drink quickly without diluting it too much.

2. Add the Ingredients: Pour in the vodka, St. Germain, vermouth, cranberry simple syrup, fresh lime juice, and cranberry bitters. The order doesn’t matter. Adding the alcohol first helps the other ingredients mix better, though.

3. Shake Vigorously: Cover the shaker tightly and shake hard for 15 to 20 seconds. You’ll know it’s ready when the outside of the shaker feels frosty and your hands begin to feel cold. Proper shaking chills the drink and creates the right texture.

4. Strain and Serve: Strain the mixture into your chilled martini or coupe glass. I actually prefer a coupe glass because the wider bowl releases more of the cranberry and elderflower aromas.

5. Garnish: Thread fresh cranberries onto a cocktail pick with mint leaves fanned out between them. You could also stud a rosemary sprig with cranberries by gently pressing them onto the needles. Rest the garnish across the rim of the glass. Serve immediately while it’s ice cold.

Make-Ahead and Storage

Make-Ahead: The cranberry simple syrup can be made up to 2 weeks in advance and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. For batch cocktails, combine all ingredients except ice in a pitcher (multiply the recipe by your guest count, and 8 servings fit nicely in a standard pitcher). Keep refrigerated for up to 4 hours. When guests arrive, shake individual portions with ice for 15 to 20 seconds and strain into glasses. This gives you the fresh shaken quality without the stress of mixing drinks one at a time during your party.

How to Store: This cocktail is best enjoyed immediately after mixing. The cranberry simple syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Leftover mixed cocktail (without ice) can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, but you’ll need to re-shake it with fresh ice before serving.

Recipe Tips and Notes

• Chill everything. Cold cocktails taste better. Chill your glass, your vodka, and even your shaker if you have time.
• Don’t skip the shake. A proper shake does more than just mix—it aerates the cocktail slightly and creates the right texture. Shaking gently produces a warm, smooth martini.
• Adjust the sweetness. If your cranberry simple syrup is particularly sweet or tart, start with 3/4 oz and adjust to taste. The right balance should be tart forward with just enough sweetness to round it out. Too tart? Add another 1/4 oz of syrup. If it’s too sweet, add another 1/4 oz of lime juice.
• Fresh garnish matters. Fresh cranberries and herbs add an aroma that makes the cocktail more enjoyable and look Instagram-worthy. Thread 3 to 4 cranberries on a pick with mint leaves between them. Or press cranberries onto a rosemary sprig for that classic holiday look.
• Make a batch. If you’re serving a crowd, multiply the recipe by the number of servings (we recommend 8 servings per batch). Mix everything except the ice in a pitcher and refrigerate it. When ready to serve, shake individual portions with ice. This takes just seconds but keeps the cocktail tasting fresh and properly diluted.

Frequently Asked Questions