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Cocktail History
The Grinch is a Christmas cocktail that was created by Jacy Topps, a New York City-based food writer and recipe developer for Wine Enthusiast. Inspired by similar viral recipes posted all over the social network TikTok, the drink mimics the color of the popular Christmas villain by using Midori as the main ingredient, and it pairs the melon liqueur with sparking wine, pineapple, vodka, and a splash of lime for balance.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Melon Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with cantaloupe, sugar, and alcohol. I used MIDORI Melon Liqueur.
Sparkling Wine: This is a carbonated wine made with white or red grapes. I used Villa Bellezza Winery Brillante.
Pineapple Juice: This is the liquid juice of a pineapple. I used freshly squeezed pineapple juice.
Vodka: This is a spirit made with grains, vegetables or fruits, and alcohol. I used Chopin Potato Vodka.
Lime Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lime. I used freshly squeezed lime juice.
Cherry: This is a fruit that has been soaked in rich syrup.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Pineapple Corer: This is used to remove the core of the pineapple before it’s juiced. I used the OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Pineapple Corer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus, fruits, and vegetables. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer for the citrus and the Hamilton Beach Large Juicer for the pineapple.
Cocktail Pick: This is used to hold the garnish.
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Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Bright neon green hue
• Aroma: Sweet melon
• Taste: A sugary pineapple flavor with melon notes and light wine taste
• Finish: Strong fruity melon
Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐
Kendall’s Take: “I knew from the ratio of Midori to everything else that this was going to be a college bar-style cocktail, but I was willing to give it a try given its popularity online. Unfortunately, I didn’t care for it. Even with the addition of lime, there was really no saving it for my palate. This version of the Grinch is at least drinkable, but I don’t think you’ll ever hear me requesting this at Christmastime. The color and concept are fun, but there are many, many other more sophisticated holiday drinks I like a lot more.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from Wine Enthusiast.
Grinch
The Grinch is a Christmas cocktail that was created by Jacy Topps, a New York City-based food writer and recipe developer for Wine Enthusiast. Inspired by similar viral recipes posted all over the social network TikTok, the drink mimics the color of the popular Christmas villain by using Midori as the main ingredient, and it pairs the melon liqueur with sparking wine, pineapple, vodka, and a splash of lime for balance.
Ingredients
Method
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Add melon liqueur, pineapple juice, vodka, lime juice, and cubed ice to a shaker.
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Shake for 10-20 seconds.
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Strain into a lowball glass over fresh cubed ice.
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Top with sparkling wine.
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Garnish with cherry.
