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Festive, sweet, and spicy Whoville’s Spiced Up Christmas Margarita (with mocktail). In-season pomegranate juice, orange juice, tequila, and orange liquor are all mixed together to create a wintery spicy margarita. Warm vanilla, cinnamon, and ginger are mixed together with spicy cayenne and rosemary to add unexpected flavors to this delicious drink. Rim your glasses in spicy cinnamon sugar, and top each drink off with ginger beer. You’ll create a magical holiday cocktail that everyone will love! Oh, and mocktail and punch recipes are included too.
Second to last Christmas cocktail of the season! This makes me SO SAD. Some years I feel like I’ve done all the holiday cocktails I can think up. But this year I didn’t have enough days to share new ideas.
I picked all my favorites though. And as we enter Christmas week, I’m only sharing my most special recipes. The ones I feel extra excited to share!
During the holiday season, I always keep the essentials for a few good cocktails on hand. I like to keep bourbon, vodka, and tequila stocked this time of year. These are my family’s alcohols of choice.
Then I always have cranberry juice, pomegranate juice, limes, and ginger beer in the fridge. These are my go-to mixers. You never know when you’ll need to mix up a quick drink. Best to be prepared!
Details
I wanted this drink to be a warming winter cocktail – spicy, sweet, and festive. My family loves a spicy tequila, so this was sounding perfect.
Instead of doing any kind of simple syrup, I kept this very simple. Shake together a mix of pomegranate and orange juice. If your grocery store has them, use clementine or tangerine juice. Then add tequila, orange liquor, and if you’d like, add some honey to sweeten. You could also use maple syrup, or simply omit the sweetener altogether. I do not like an overly sweet drink, so I don’t usually add the honey. It’s up to you!
Add a splash of vanilla, a mix of cinnamon, ginger, and cayenne, and finish with a couple sprigs of rosemary. Give this a really good shake to combine the honey and spices.
When you feel like the drink is very well mixed. Add ice and shake again.
For the rim of the glass, instead of salt, I like to use sugar mixed with cinnamon and cayenne. Sounds a little different but it really adds a festive and delicious touch to each drink.
So rim the glass, then pour over the drink. Finish with ginger beer, rosemary, and pomegranate seeds.
It takes only minutes to make but always turns out to look so impressive. This drink is extra pretty with its festive red color. I’m planning to make the pitcher version next week for Christmas break. My family has been sent photos are already looking forward to this one.
Kicking off the holiday week in the best way possible, with a cocktail in hand!
Looking for other Christmas drinks? Here are my favorites:
Lastly, if you make this Whoville’s Spiced Up Christmas Margarita (with mocktail), be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Whoville’s Spiced Up Christmas Margarita (with mocktail)
Servings: 1 drink
Calories Per Serving: 380 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup pomegranate juice
- 1/4 cup tangerine or orange juice
- 2 ounces tequila
- 1/2 ounce orange liquor
- 1-2 tablespoons honey
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 pinch cayenne
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- ginger beer, for topping (optional)
CINNI SUGAR RIM
- 1 tablespoon coarse sugar
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
Instructions
- 1. On a small plate, mix the coarse sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and cayenne. Rim your glass with an orange, clementine, or tangerine. Then dip the glass into the sugar mix.2. Fill the glass with ice.3. Combine the pomegranate juice, orange juice, tequila, orange liquor, honey (if using), the vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, cayenne, and rosemary in a cocktail shaker. Shake well to combine, then fill with ice and shake 1 minute. Pour into your prepared glass. Top with ginger beer and garnish with pomegranate seeds, cinnamon sticks, and rosemary. 4. To Make a Mocktail: omit the tequila and orange liquor. Use 2 additional tablespoons of pomegranate juice and 1 tablespoon of orange juice.
Whoville’s Spiced Up Christmas Margarita Punch (with mocktail punch)
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 380 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups pomegranate juice
- 2 cups tangerine or orange juice
- 2 cups tequila
- 1 cup orange liquor
- 1/2 -1 cup honey
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- cayenne to taste
- 6-8 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 4 ginger beers for topping (optional)
Cinni Sugar Rim
- 1/4 cup coarse sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- cayenne to taste
Instructions
- 1. In a punch bowl, combine the pomegranate juice, orange juice, tequila, orange liquor, honey (if using), vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, and cayenne. Use a whisk to stir and incorporate the honey and spices. Add the rosemary. Chill until ready to serve. 2. On a small plate, mix the coarse sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and cayenne. Rim your glass with an orange then dip the glass into the sugar mix.3. Just before serving, stir well to mix everything. Add ice to your punch bowl. Pour over the ginger beer. Rim your glasses, then add ice. Pour over the punch. Serve and enjoy!4. To Make a Mocktail Punch: omit the tequila and orange liquor. Use 1 additional cup of pomegranate juice and 1/2 cup of orange juice.
Notes
Calories for the mocktail version are less.
Loved the wintery twist on a margarita. The cinnamon & ginger was a nice twist. Unfortunately, the drink was brown & unappealing to the eye.
Thank you for the feedback Cat! xT
This looks lovely, can’t wait to try it. Could i substitute the pomegranate juice for cranberry juice?
Hi Carlie,
Yes, that will work well for you! Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
Can you use vodka in place of tequila?
Hi Carrie,
Totally, that will work well for you! I hope you love this recipe! xT
I really appreciate MindyK’s comment. We are throwing a ‘Witches Ball’. I am offering 3 large dispensers – an infused ‘blessed water’, a ‘spooky concoction’, and a ‘magical brew’ and wanted one to include alcohol. This works perfect as everyone can enjoy all 3, but spike it if desired. Thank you!!!
Everyone at my New Year’s gathering loved this. It was classy, delicious, and easy to make! It also looked great and was the best wintery tequila drink I’ve had. Didn’t need the ginger beer- it was delicious either way.
Hey Shana,
Wonderful!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xT
Made this for New Year’s Eve and everyone loved it. I made it as non-alc punch and put out an assortment of bottles for people to add their own liquor if they chose. It was delicious!
Hey Mindy,
Happy New Year!🎆🎈 I appreciate you making this recipe and your comment! So glad to hear it was enjoyed! xx
Love, love, love! The perfect mix of sweet with a little bit of heat. Delightful!
Hey Nicole,
Wonderful!! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Thanks for your comment! xx
I would give this 0 stars if possible. We were very disappointed by this recipe. It wasn’t even drinkable and we had to dump it out! :(. The main reason is due to the amount of cinnamon the recipe called for in the 8 serving recipe. I only started with 1/2 teaspoon and it destroyed the punch! The color was quite awful looking as well. It did not look nearly as pretty as the photos.
Hey Amy,
So sorry to hear that this recipe was not enjoyed. Please let me know if there is anything that I can help with! xx
I do think you might try to offer constructive criticism without being rude. That you do not like something does not mean that it is a bad recipe. If you read the other reviews, you will see that the cinnamon did not “destroy” the recipe for anyone else.
Because you added twice as much cinnamon… it says 1/8 teaspoon not 1/2.
Replying to Amy above ^^
It was not drinkable because you added over twice as much cinnamon as it says too… it says 1/8 teaspoon not 1/2 teaspoon.
My cocktail mixing skills have never been great – until I gave this one a try! I served it at a dinner party the other night and everyone loved it. It’s so good, so refreshing but cozy, and different than your standard holiday cocktails. Love love love it.
Hey Amanda,
Happy Wednesday!!🎇 I am delighted to hear that this recipe was enjoyed and appreciate you making it! xx
This was soooo good. I didn’t have the rosemary and am going to make it again as soon as I can get it and am sure it will make it even yummier. I mixed it in advance and added the ginger beer at serving and it was so easy and such a wonderful blending of holiday flavors – in an adult kind of way, if that makes sense. Not overly sweet, just really good.
Hey Taralyn,
Happy Wednesday!!🎇 I am delighted to hear that this recipe was enjoyed and appreciate you making it! xx
Made these by the pitcher for a Christmas – HUGE hit! Just enough spice to keep it interesting!
Hey Grace,
Happy Holidays!!☃️ I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it was enjoyed! xT
I did not want to pay big bucks for Pom juice to I bought Pom Cran juice and it was delicious! All else the same except I used a couple pieces of crystalized ginger and did not use the honey because I sugared the rosemary!!!! Mmmmmm
Hey Lori,
Happy Monday!❄️ I am so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xx
Okay this is amazing! I made this yesterday while we were unpacking our new apartment and listening to Christmas jams to test it out for our upcoming dinner and it was BOMB! The sugar rim is so good and I’m literally obsessed! Thank you!
Hey Naya,
Happy Holidays!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed and appreciate you giving it a try! 🎄❄️
This drink was amazing! The size of glass I put it in (or the massive ice cube 😉) didn’t leave any room for the ginger beer, but I didn’t miss it. What a great combination of flavors. Thanks!
Hey Melissa,
Happy Wednesday!!🎇 I am delighted to hear that this recipe was enjoyed and appreciate you making it! xx
Do you have the pitcher recipe?
Hi Heather,
Yup, it’s listed above:) Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love the recipe! Cheers! xx
Hi! I too am looking for the pitcher recipe. I don’t see it in the recipe! Thanks!
Hi there,
It’s literally right below the cocktail recipe:) Please let me know if you still can’t find it! xT
I know it’s not Christmas but it’s still winter here in KS. I just made Who-ville’s Spiced Margarita and it’s fantastic. I didn’t have the optional ginger beer so I used a bit of sparkling mineral water. Also used a few drops of orange bitters as I don’t have orange liqueur. But you can get your bottom dollar, I’m officially going to stock up on those drink ingredients because I’m tired of not having what I need when I want a darn drink! My husband doesn’t drink, only I do!
Hey Laura,
Happy Sunday!!🌸 Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your review, I love to hear that it was a winner! xT
How far in advance could I make the punch? I was thinking I’ll make it a couple of days before serving and leave it in the fridge.
Hey Caitlyn,
Sure, that would be just fine for you to do! Wait to add the ginger beer until you are ready to serve. I hope you love the recipe! Cheers! xT
How do you think this would do as a frozen marg?
Hey Emily,
Sure, that would be great! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! Cheers! xx
We made these for Christmas and they were an absolute hit! Highly recommend!
Hey Carrie,
Wonderful!! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Thanks for your comment! xx