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Based on the traditional favorite, this Yuletide Daisy Cocktail is an easy drink that everyone will love! It’s sour, sweet, and bubbly, with a clean vodka base and beautiful scarlet color thanks to pomegranate grenadine.
A Classic Sour Cocktail Recipe with a Christmas Twist!
For the holidays, I always like to have a festive cocktail recipe up my sleeve. It’s the perfect way to make something that’s festive, refreshing, and relaxing all at once – perfect for the season! This easy Yuletide daisy cocktail takes the old-school classic for a seasonal twist, resulting in a gorgeous ruby-red drink that’s a little sour, a little sweet, and perfectly fizzy.
Made with vodka, grenadine, and lime juice, this soda-topped drink is sure to be a hit! You’ll love the cold, tangy bite that quickly warms you as it goes down with its hit of vodka. For Christmas, New Year’s, or just because, it’s one you’re sure to love.
Is a Daisy Cocktail the Same as a Margarita?
Not quite! They are members of the same cocktail “family,” though. The daisy came along before the hugely popular margarita and contained the same basic formula, but with distinctive differences: gin or brandy instead of tequila, lemon juice instead of lime, and super-sweet syrup instead of agave syrup.
However, the margarita is definitely modeled after the daisy, and in fact, “margarita” is the Spanish word for daisy! Cool, right?
What You’ll Need
Just what is in my Christmas version of the classic daisy? I’m glad you asked! Here’s everything you’ll need to make this mouthwatering sour cocktail.
- Vodka: You’ll need good quality vodka for the base of the drink.
- Grenadine: For a seasonal spin, use pomegranate grenadine to add a touch of sweetness.
- Lime Juice: Lime juice plays well with both pomegranate and vodka, and has a little touch of tropical sweetness compared to the more traditional lemon juice.
- Syrup: Simple syrup is fine, or you can use agave syrup or even maple syrup.
- Club Soda: For fizziness!
- Garnishes: I like to use lime slices and pomegranate arils for a beautiful presentation and garnish.
- Goblets: Daisy cocktails can be served in almost any glass, but my preference for these Yuletide daisies are goblets. Chill the goblets prior to serving.
How to Make a Daisy Cocktail
There’s really nothing to this drink—just shake it and pour! No muddling, no macerating. It’s perfect for a special occasion when you want to make something different, but don’t want to get caught up playing bartender.
- Mix Everything Except Club Soda. Using a cocktail shaker, shake together the vodka, grenadine, lime juice, and simple syrup with some ice.
- Strain, and Add Club Soda. Once the ingredients are icy cold and well-incorporated, strain the mixture into your chilled goblets. Top up each goblet with club soda.
- Add Garnishes and Serve. Add lime slices and sprinkle pomegranate arils into each goblet.
The Best Tips and Tricks
Looking for ways to customize your cocktail experience? Great! Here are some easy tips for making it your own (and making it great).
- Make Your Own Grenadine: If you can’t find authentic grenadine made with pomegranates (many commercial brands are made mostly with other ingredients, it’s totally doable to make it yourself! Just boil one part pomegranate juice with two parts sugar, until the sugar dissolves. ta dahm! ?
- Sugar the Rim: Just like margaritas, daisies are great with a sugared rim. Use a rocks glass for this, dipping it into lime juice and then sugar for a sparkling variation.
- Add Rum: A traditional daisy cocktail included a few dashes of rum for extra complexity. You can do that here, too!
- Add Orange: A tiny bit of Gran Marnier or Curaçao adds refreshing bitter orange to the drink.
CHEERS!
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Yuletide Daisy Cocktail
Ingredients
- 8 ounces good quality vodka
- 3 ounces pomegranate grenadine
- 2 ounces fresh lime juice
- 2 ounces simple syrup,, you can also use agave syrup or maple syrup
- Club soda
- Chilled goblets,, for serving
- Lime slices,, for garnish
- Pomegranate arils,, for serving
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, grenadine, lime juice, and simple syrup; add ice and shake until well incorporated.
- Evenly strain the cocktail into 4 chilled goblets.
- Top each drink with club soda.
- Garnish with lime slices.
- Add a few pomegranate arils to each drink.
- Serve.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
