Mistletoe Kiss Cocktail

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!

PREP TIME5 minutes

COOK TIME7 minutes

TOTAL TIME12 minutes

Ingredients

For the rosemary simple syrup*:

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

For a small batch:

• 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:

• 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.