the jingle bell margarita

How else do you think reindeer fly if not with a little ~help~?

Jingle ALL the way into the weekend with this here margarita, and all your festivities thereafter. It’s sweet, it’s tart, it’s pretty, it reminds me of Christmas and all the holly fucking jolly that comes with.

We’re two weeks from Christmas, which is bullshit, and I think I’m finally veering into festive mode. We bought our tree on Tuesday and today plan to decorate, and we finally seem to be obtaining some nicer weather after a whole month basically of pseudo-summer (and a lot of fog).

This may also be a time that some feel extra burdened and stressed. I can relate. There’s a lot of obligation involved with the holidays, some of it unpleasant, and even if most of the activities are enjoyable the sheer volume might become overwhelming over time. I invite you to mix up this cocktail, find your comfiest throw, and relax a bit on a quiet evening. Taking moments to yourself is just as important as seeking connection.

Our margarita today contains a cozy spiced maple syrup base, enough tequila for that pleasant purr, and a combination of orange and pomegranate juices for a sweet flare. A pretty great pitcher drink for entertaining, too, directions for which I offer below the individual drink. Bottoms up!

Jingle Bell on the Rocks

I based the spiced syrup off the one flavoring my Snowy Poinsettia Martini, adding some clove and star anise to that formula for a little extra oomph. Boil those ingredients up, steep, and strain out the solids. You have enough syrup now for about 6-8 drinks, or one pitcher.

Beforehand I work my mixology magic, I like to toss some cinnamon sugar together to rim my glass: run a citrus wedge around the rim, then dip and twirl and shimmy into the sugar.

For the drink, combine some of the syrup, tequila, lemon juice, orange juice, and pomegranate juice. Shake or stir it up, then pour into your glass, top with ice, and enjoy. Easy!

Perhaps if you’ve a tree to adorn this weekend or a little gathering to host, this cocktail will fit your image of a perfect day or night.

Tried this recipe out? Leave a rating and comment below with your thoughts, and don’t forget to come say hi on Instagram and show me what you made!

Get your holiday sippy sippy on:

The Snowy Poinsettia Martini

Sparkling Cranberry Cider Tequila Punch

Buttered Rum Hot Chocolate

the jingle bell margarita

Also known as a spiced maple orange pomegranate margarita, but that's a bit too much to say when you've had a few.

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Drinks

Servings 1 cocktail

Ingredients

  

• 3 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 oz tequila
• 1/2 oz lemon juice
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 2 tbsp pomegranate juice
• 2-3 tbsp spiced syrup (recipe below)

spiced syrup

• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 2 whole cloves
• 2 orange peels (about 2 inches long)
• 1 star anise pod

Instructions

 

• In a small sauce pot, combine the maple syrup, 1 cup of water, cinnamon sticks, orange peels, anise pods, and cloves. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat and steep for 10 minutes. Discard the solids.
• Toss the sugar and cinnamon together on a shallow plate. Run a citrus wedge around the rim of a cocktail glass, then dip and swirl into the cinnamon sugar to coat. Shake off excess.
• In a cocktail shaker, combine the tequila, lemon juice, orange juice, pomegranate juice, and syrup. Add ice and shake until cold. Pour into the prepared glass and top with pomegranate arils and a cinnamon stick, as desired.

Keyword christmas, cocktails, maple, margarita, orange, pomegranate, tequila