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Celebrating the man of the season with The Santa Clause Smash. Homemade ginger honey syrup, mixed with sweet pomegranate, warming bourbon, winter citrus, a touch of vanilla, and fizzy ginger beer. This festive cocktail makes for the most perfect cozy winter cocktail that Santa…and all…will love. Make the syrup ahead of time to keep in the fridge to mix up a quick drink at a moment’s notice. Or serve family and friends with the punch version.

side angled photo of The Santa Clause Smash

This final Christmas drink Saturday requires the most festive drink of the year. Enter The Santa Clause Smash. It’s warming, it’s cozy, has a little bit of kick, and it’s as sweet as can be…just like Jolly old Santa himself.

Yes, I’m being so cheesy right now, but Christmas is only three days away, so it’s OK. Embracing the season and all of the holly, jolly happiness that it brings!

Like a lot of my Christmas recipes, I had this one in my head all December long. The Santa Clause movie is probably one of my favorite Christmas movies. Therefore, I knew I wanted to create a drink inspired by not only The Santa Clause movies, but by jolly old Santa himself.

For whatever reason, I always see Santa as a bourbon kind of guy. I don’t why, but that’s just the picture I have painted in my head. I guess because bourbon is warming and cozy? Who knows, but to me, Santa is a bourbon guy. And then, of course, his drink needs to be red, so in comes the pomegranate. And that’s kind of how I built this drink. It’s simple but so delicious.

overhead photo of The Santa Clause Smash in measuring cup

The Details.

Start with the gingery syrup. I make this with honey, fresh ginger, lemon, and mint. It has all the things you need to fight off those winter colds…so really this cocktail is kind of like preventative medicine. It will heal all of your wintery blues.

Go with me on this.

I add a splash of vanilla for an extra special touch and depth of warming wintery flavor. Plus, vanilla just makes me think sugar cookies, which of course makes me think of Santa.

Next, mix up the Santa Clause Smash. Shake together a little pomegranate juice, bourbon, lemon, and that gingery syrup. My special Christmas touch to these drinks though?

GINGER BEER. You can never have too much ginger beer. It’s my favorite cocktail mixer and adds that final layer of sweetness. It’s not traditional in a bourbon smash, but it’s so much better than using plain seltzer and adds something special. Of course, if you prefer, you can use regular seltzer. Either way, these drinks are going to be very good.

Serving guests? Make the Santa Clause Punch. I know so many of you are entertaining over the next couple of weeks, so I made sure to include the punch recipe too!

side angled photo of The Santa Clause Smash in cocktail glass

Looking for more holiday cocktails?

Here are all of my favorites, not only from this year but from years past as well!

the north pole cocktail
white christmas mojito
sparkling Christmas party punch
spicy pomegranate moscow mule
christmas sangria
holly jolly Christmas citrus cocktail
the spicy sweet grinch cocktail
jingle bell cranberry paloma
cranberry bourbon sour
holiday cheermeister bourbon punch
vanilla chai tea white Russian
vanilla chai old fashioned
Rudolph’s rockin’ pomegranate jingle juice punch
gingerbread white Russian
pomegranate ginger paloma
spiced cranberry rosé spritzers
buddy the elf cocktail
Santa’s nightcap
blood orange champagne mule
poinsettia spritz punch

 And with that, I think we’re ready for the holiday festivities to begin! The question is, which cocktails (or cocktails…) will you be making?

The Santa Clause Smash | halfbakedharvest.com #christmasdrink #bourbon #cocktail

If you make the Santa Clause smash, 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!

The Santa Clause Smash

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 1
Calories Per Serving: 1471 kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Ingredients

Ginger Honey Syrup

  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1 inch fresh ginger, chopped
  • 8 lemon zest strips
  • 8 fresh mint leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

The Santa Clause

  • 1/2 cup pomegranate juice
  • 2 ounces bourbon
  • juice of 1/2 a lemon
  • 1-2 ounces (2-4 tablespoons) ginger syrup
  • ginger beer or sparkling water, for topping

Instructions

Ginger Honey Syrup

  • 1. Bring 1/2 cup water, the honey, ginger, and lemon to a boil over high heat. Once boiling simmer for 3-4 minutes, then remove from the heat. Add the mint, cover and steep 10 minutes. Strain out the ginger and mint. Stir in the vanilla. Store in a glass jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

The Santa Clause

  • 1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the pomegranate juice, bourbon, lemon juice, and 2-4 tablespoons of the ginger syrup. Shake to combine.
    2. Strain into an ice filled glass. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with fresh mint and pomegranate arils, if desired.
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The Santa Clause Punch

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 299 kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Ingredients

Instructions

  • 1. Bring 1/2 cup water, the honey, ginger, and lemon zest to a boil over high heat. Once boiling simmer 3-4 minutes, then remove from the heat. Add the mint, cover and steep 10 minutes. Strain out the ginger and mint. Stir in the vanilla. Store in a glass jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
    2. Combine the pomegranate juice, bourbon, lemon juice, and ginger syrup in a large pitcher. Stir to combine and chill until ready to serve.
    3. When ready to serve, fill the pitcher with ice and top off with ginger beer. Or fill glasses with the punch mix and top each glass off with ginger beer. 
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horizontal photo of The Santa Clause Smash

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Comments

  1. Hi there! Making these tonight. I noticed in the recipe for the smaller portion it says how much ginger syrup but doesn’t specify for the pitcher recipe! How much should I use?

  2. 5 stars
    Hi Tieghan!! Wondering if I could use the squeezable ginger for these rather than fresh, as it’s all I have?!

    Absolutely love your recipes!

    Thanks!!!

    1. Hey Krystal,
      Sure that would work. I hope you enjoy the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan

  3. 5 stars
    I made these over Christmas for guests. They were a huge hit. I wouldn’t change a thing! I am keeping the simple syrup recipe to use in tea in the morning! So, YUMMY!

  4. Adore your recipes … just FYI, though – It’s spelled Santa Claus (unless you’re making a pun about the movie series “The Santa Clause”).

  5. Do you think you could turn this into a pitcher drink? I’m very new to making cocktails and don’t know if/how I could go about that. Thanks!

    1. Hi Rebekah! Of course! The recipe already serves 8, so I would double it if you have more people! Please let me know if you have more questions! xTieghan

  6. Hey Tieghan,
    I love this Santa smash! I just made your brûlée orange old fashion for my mom and step dad (I don’t drink?) and they loved it! My mom said “I taste ~holiday~.” Haha I think that’s a win?
    I’m looking forward to trying Santa’s smash, Santa’s night cap, and the Holly Jolly Christmas Citrus cocktail! I have to be careful though, my mom is weary about mixing different types of alcohol all in one drink. But she’s yet to try your ginger beer trick so fingers crossed.?
    I hope you’re enjoying making drinks for the family and Happy almost Christmas!!!❤️?

    1. Haha such a win!! I am so glad they loved that! Also, i hope they love all of the other drinks and things you make them! I hope you are enjoying your time with family! Thank you Kristin! Happy Holidays! xTieghan

    1. HI! Prosecco will be SO GOOD! Such a great idea! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and Merry Christmas! xTieghan

    1. Hey Jeff! Yes, just a typo. All fixed. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and happy holidays! xTieghan

  7. Could you do more drink recipes without ginger or ginger beer. Ginger goes against form for me and upsets my stomach. It seems as though most of your drinks feature ginger beer and/or ginger.

    1. Hi Dee! I just love ginger. haha! You can of course omit the ginger from the honey syrup and then just use sparkling water to top this drink off. The drink is still going to be delicious! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and happy holidays! xTieghan