Under The Mistletoe

This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure policy here.

Cocktail History

The Under The Mistletoe is a Christmas cocktail that was created at BIG Bar in Chicago, Illinois.

The recipe draws inspiration from the classic Cranberry & Soda but elevates the template with thoughtful, festive ingredients meant to capture the essence of the Christmas season.

It starts with a muddling of tart cranberry and zesty orange in simple syrup, allowing the fresh, bright flavors to meld. This base is then complemented with splashes of dry gin and cranberry juice, both of which provide a crisp and slightly aromatic depth to the drink. And finally, it’s topped with fizzy club soda to give it a light, effervescent finish that makes it refreshing and easy to sip. With its balance of sweet, tart, and citrusy flavors, the Under The Mistletoe is an ideal choice for holiday gatherings, offering a sophisticated yet approachable beverage perfect for toasting with friends and family during Christmastime.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Club Soda: This is a carbonated beverage made with water and added minerals such as sodium bicarbonate, which are infused with carbon dioxide gas to develop a fizzy, slightly salty flavor.

London Dry Gin: This is a type of gin made by redistilling a neutral spirit with juniper berries and other botanicals without added sweeteners to develop a crisp, dry flavor.

Cranberry Juice: This is the liquid extracted from ripe cranberries that’s blended with water to develop a dark, tart flavor.

Simple Syrup: This is a sweetener made with white sugar and water, which are heated into a syrup with a sweet flavor.

Cranberries: This is a type of berry grown on low shrubs that has bright pink skin and tart, slightly bitter flavor.

Orange Slice: This is a slice of an orange that’s been cut into a half wheel shape.

Thyme: This is an herb with small green leaves that has an earthy, slightly minty flavor.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 Polar Beverages Premium Club Soda
• 🔗 Nikka Coffey Gin
• 🔗 R.W. Knudsen Organic Just Cranberry Juice
• 🔗 Liber & Co. Classic Pure Cane Gum 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 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.

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

Muddler: This is a handheld bar tool with a thick handle and flat or textured end that’s used for crushing ingredients to release their flavors.

Bar Spoon: This is a long-handled spoon with a twisted shaft that’s used for stirring cocktails, layering ingredients, and reaching the bottom of tall glasses and mixing vessels.

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

Highball Glass: This is a tall, slim glass that’s used for serving mixed drinks made with a larger proportion of non-alcoholic mixers.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife
• 🔗 OXO Steel Cocktail Muddler
• 🔗 Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon
• 🔗 I-MART Silver Metal Cocktail Pick Set
• 🔗 Dorothy Thorpe Highball Glass

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Bright red-pink hue with an ombré effect

• Aroma: Orange, cranberry, and rosemary

• Taste: Straightforward cranberry-tart taste that’s accented with herbal gin

• Finish: Some sweetness from the syrup and cranberry for balance

Kendall’s Take
“This drink was described to me as something you could order in a dive bar year-round, and honestly, that’s pretty spot on. The Under The Mistletoe is straightforward in the best way—no wild twists, no overthinking or obscure ingredients—just a solid gin cocktail that does exactly what you want it to do. The fun part is how much it changes depending on the gin you use too, so you can really make it your own. If you’re shopping for a Christmas cocktail that’ll reliably win over gin drinkers, this one’s an easy yes.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was found in the publication Liquor.com.