The holidays are right around the corner and you need a simple, elegant, easy to make drink that’s going to fit the theme and also taste great. This is where the Poinsettia comes in, and it won’t disappoint.
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What is Poinsettia ?
The Poinsettia cocktail is a cranberry and sparkling wine drink, a holiday take on the classic mimosa. However, this one also uses a bit of triple sec (or any orange liqueur for that matter) to add a dash of orange. It was named after the poinsettia plant, and I can definitely see the resemblance.
When is this drink best ?
Of course, this drinks works best as a Christmas or holiday cocktail, when actual poinsettia plants are in bloom. The cranberry juice helps bring that idea home, and the sparkling wine (or prosecco) also help give this a very festive feel. I guess it could also work well as Thanksgiving drink, as it has so much cranberry.
The Poinsettia Cocktail
Ingredients
- 0.5 oz triple sec
- 2 oz cranberry juice
- 2 oz sparkling wine dry
- granulated sugar to garnish
- orange slice and/or peel to garnish
Instructions
- Wet the rim of a champagne flute with a bit of orange, dip into granulated sugar.
- In the champagne flute add you triple sec and cranberry juice, give it a quick stir.
- Add sparkling wine, garnish with orange slice.
Notes
- This is basically a holiday mimosa. Fresh cranberry juice is a bonus.
- Triple sec can be swapped for cherry liqueur for extra holiday flavor.
My thoughts on Poinsettia
I loved it ! Not only is it pretty but the flavors work very well, especially the sparkling wine and cranberry juice. The triple sec does help, of course, and I think it cements this as a clearly holiday drink and I couldn’t drink it in, say, April.
I think it would be even better with a cherry liqueur instead of orange, but that’s just me and my tastes. I’ve always associated chocolate, cherry, coconut, and orange with winter, since they were the top notes in most of the desserts I had as a kid in the cold season. So based on that, I’m assuming a cherry liqueur would hit just right.
If you like Poinsettia, you might also like…
Mimosa – a classic, and the base idea for the Poinsettia
Notes, substitutes, and tips
Sparkling wine and prosecco are extremely similar, to the point where you can easily use one in place of the other. Just be mindful of the sweetness. Do not get sweet sparkling wine for this, get the dry one.
Fresh cranberry juice is best, of course. But if all you have is store-bought that will work too.
