Grinch

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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 melons, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a sweet, fruity flavor.

Sparkling Wine: This is a type of wine made with white grapes and yeast, which are fermented with the skins to produce alcohol and then infused with carbon dioxide gas to develop a pale yellow-green color and crisp, fruity flavor.

Pineapple Juice: This is the liquid extracted from the flesh of ripe pineapples that has a sweet, tangy tropical flavor and bright yellow color.

Vodka: This is a spirit made with fermented grains or potatoes and water, which are distilled and then filtered to develop a clean, neutral flavor.

Lime Juice: This is the liquid extracted from the flesh of ripe limes that has a zesty, sour flavor and light green color.

Brandied Cherry: This is a type of stone fruit made by soaking maraschino cherries in brandy, water, and spices to make a rich, fruity syrup.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 Midori Melon Liqueur
• 🔗 La Marca Prosecco
• 🔗 Belvedere Vodka
• 🔗 Collins Stemless Maraschino Cherries

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 and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.

Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.

Cutting Board: This is a flat, durable kitchen surface made from materials like wood or plastic that’s used for slicing ingredients and preparing garnishes.

Chef’s Knife: This is a large kitchen knife with a broad, sharp blade that’s used for chopping and slicing ingredients.

Pineapple Corer: This is a kitchen tool with a circular cutting blade that’s used for coring and slicing pineapples into rings or chunks.

Big Mouth Juicer: This is a kitchen appliance with a wide, bowl-shaped reamer and deep reservoir that’s used for efficiently extracting juice from large fruits.

Paring Knife: This is a small kitchen knife with a narrow, sharp blade that’s used for peeling fruit and trimming garnishes.

Electric Citrus Juicer: This is a kitchen appliance with a motorized reamer that’s used for quickly extracting juice from citrus fruits.

Cocktail Pick: This is a small, slender skewer made from metal, wood, or bamboo that’s used for holding cocktail garnishes in place.

Lowball Glass: This is a short, wide glass with a thick base that’s used for serving cocktails with ice or spirits neat.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Boston Shaker
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Hawthorne Strainer
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Cutting Board Set
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Pineapple Corer
• 🔗 Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Juicer
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife
• 🔗 BLACK+DECKER 32 oz Electric Citrus Juicer
• 🔗 DitzyDiva Christmas Bauble Cocktail Pick Set
• 🔗 Libbey Infinium Classic Rocks Glass

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 Take
“This one fully commits to the bright green, playful energy of its namesake Christmas icon, and although a little sillier than I usually go, that’s exactly the point this time of year. The Midori obviously takes center stage in the Grinch, with lime adding just enough citrus to keep it lively. It’s fun, nostalgic, and unmistakably festive, especially if you’re leaning into the whimsical side of your holiday bar menu. I’d serve it when you want something colorful and crowd-friendly that doesn’t take itself too seriously.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was found in Wine Enthusiast magazine.