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This Christmas tequila cocktail combines tequila with cranberry juice and ginger beer for a sparkling holiday drink! Build it right in the glass for easy entertaining that looks festive and tastes even better.
Tequila might not be the liquor you first reach for first over the holidays, since champagne and bourbon are typically more popular. But after one sip of this cranberry-spiked, ginger beer-topped sparkling drink, you’ll be a believer!
I love my Christmas margarita recipe, but I wanted to create a new Christmas tequila cocktail that was even easier to make for entertaining. This drink has just 4 ingredients and you can build it right in the glass: no shaking or stirring involved! The sugar rim also makes it look sparkly and festive, making it my new favorite Christmas cocktail for the season.
Key Ingredients You’ll Need
The ingredient list is short, but each component is important:
- Tequila reposado is my preference because its aged flavor has notes of vanilla and oak. But if you only have blanco tequila on hand, it works perfectly!
- 100% cranberry juice: Make sure to look for pure 100% cranberry juice, not cranberry cocktail or cranberry juice blend. It’s typically easy to find at most grocery stores (I used Ocean Spray brand here).
- Simple syrup adds just enough sweetness. I usually keep a batch of simple syrup in my refrigerator since it lasts for weeks and is useful in so many cocktail recipes and mocktails.
- Ginger beer: This adds bubbles and a spicy kick. I like using Fever-Tree or Q Ginger Beer brands. Make sure not to use ginger ale here: it doesn’t have as punchy of a flavor.
How to Make a Christmas Tequila Cocktail
This cocktail is so simple to make because you can build it in the glass! Here’s what to do:
- Prep the glass rim. For this drink I thought it would be fun to have sparkly sugar on the side of the glass as well as around the edge. You can simply run a lime wedge on the rim and down the side of a highball glass, then sprinkle sugar over the top. (The sugar gets a little globby if you try to roll it.)
- Fill the glass with ice, then add your tequila, cranberry juice, and simple syrup. Give it a quick stir with a bar spoon or even a regular spoon.
- Top with the ginger beer, then garnish. I like to use fresh rosemary because you get the herbal aroma on each sip. A lime wheel adds a pop of color and fresh or frozen cranberries are fun and festive.
Variations and Substitutions
Here are a few variations of the classic recipe you could try:
- Spicy: Muddle a thin slice of fresh jalapeño in the glass before adding the other ingredients.
- Cinnamon sugar rim: Make the rim from my Christmas Mocktail with brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves and a pinch of salt.
- Mocktail: Try my Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail for a similar vibe that’s non alcholic.
- Berry liqueur: If you happen to have creme de cassis or Chambord on hand, make my El Diablo cocktail: it’s very similar!
Serving Suggestions for Christmas Parties
This Christmas tequila cocktail works well for many occasions during the holidays:
- Christmas Eve appetizers: This drink pairs well with Christmas appetizers like my favorite baked goat cheese, pull apart Christmas tree bread, or a cheese board.
- New Year’s Eve: The festive red color and sparkling ginger beer make it feel appropriate for midnight toasts as a New Year’s Eve drink and party food ideas.
- Cookie exchange parties: The tartness cuts through the sweetness of all those Christmas cookies.
Make-Ahead and Batch Drink Tips
You can pre-rim your glasses up to 4 hours ahead. Once the sugar is adhered, just make sure to store them somewhere that they won’t get bumped so the sugar stays on.
To make an 8-serving batch, mix 1 ½ cups tequila, 1 cup cranberry juice, and ½ cup simple syrup in a pitcher. Refrigerate until serving. When serving, add 3 oz to each glass and top with ginger beer.
Christmas Tequila Cocktail (Perfect for Parties!)
This Christmas tequila cocktail combines tequila with cranberry juice and ginger beer for a sparkling holiday drink! Build it right in the glass for easy entertaining that looks festive and tastes even better.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Cocktail
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces tequila reposado (or tequila blanco)
- 1 ounce 100% cranberry juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces ginger beer
- Sugar, for the rim
- Rosemary, lime wheel and wedge, cranberries, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the glass rim by spreading sugar on a small plate. With a lime wedge, wet the rim and one side of a highball glass. Sprinkle the sugar over the outside rim and the side of the glass to coat (see Notes).
- Fill the glass with ice, then add the tequila, cranberry juice, and simple syrup. Stir to combine.
- Top with the ginger beer and stir gently. Garnish and serve immediately.
Notes
The sugar becomes globby if you try to roll the glass like a traditional rim, so you can simply use your fingers to sprinkle the sugar here.
8 serving batch drink instructions: Mix 1 ½ cups tequila, 1 cup cranberry juice, and ½ cup simple syrup in a pitcher. Refrigerate until serving. When serving, add 3 oz to each glass and top with ginger beer.
