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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. Drawing inspiration from viral holiday drinks on TikTok, this recipe captures the bright green hue of the iconic Christmas villain thanks to its main ingredient, Midori. This melon-flavored liqueur is combines with sparkling wine for effervescence, pineapple juice for sweetness, vodka for an extra kick, and a splash of lime juice to balance the flavors with a hint of tartness. The result is a refreshing and visually striking cocktail that’s perfect for holiday parties or simply to bring a bit of whimsical cheer to the season.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Melon Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with cantaloupe, sugar, alcohol, and water. I used MIDORI Melon Liqueur.
Sparkling Wine: This is a type of wine made with white or red grapes and infused with carbon dioxide. I used Villa Bellezza Winery Brillante.
Pineapple Juice: This is the sweet, tangy liquid extracted from the flesh of pineapples. I used fresh 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 tangy liquid extracted from the flesh of limes. I used fresh 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:
Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface to catch spills, provide grip for glasses and tools, and keep the workspace clean and organized. I used the Highball & Chaser 18×12 Bar Mat.
Jigger: This is a small, double-sided measuring tool that’s used to accurately portion spirits and mixers, typically with one side measuring 1 oz and the other 1.5 or 2 oz. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker consisting of a metal tin and a glass or metal mixing glass that’s used for shaking and blending ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is a metal strainer with a spring around its edge that’s used to filter out ice and solids when pouring the cocktail into a glass. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Chef’s Knife: This is a versatile, multipurpose kitchen knife with a broad, sharp blade that’s used for chopping, slicing, and dicing. I used the OXO Good Grips 8-Inch Chef’s Knife.
Paring Knife: This is a small, sharp kitchen knife with a narrow blade that’s used for peeling, trimming, and garnishing. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Pineapple Corer: This is a kitchen tool that’s used to remove the core and slice the flesh of a pineapple into rings or chunks. I used the OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Pineapple Corer.
Juicer: This is a handheld tool that’s used to extract juice from fruits by pressing or twisting it against a reamer or cone. I used the Hamilton Beach Large Juicer and the Black+Decker 32 oz Electric Citrus Juicer.
Cocktail Pick: This is a small, slender tool that’s used to skewer cocktail garnishes. I used one from the DitzyDiva Christmas Bauble Cocktail Pick Set.
Lowball Glass: This is a short, wide glass with a thick base that’s used for serving spirits neat or on the rocks. I used the Libbey Infinium Classic Rocks Glass.
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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.
