The Spicy Sweet Grinch Cocktail.
Keeping things festive and fun with my Spicy Sweet Grinch Cocktail. Vodka mixed with fresh lime juice, a squeeze of grapefruit juice, spicy jalapeños, and topped off with ginger beer. It’s a touch of sweet and a little bit spicy…perfectly fitting for “the Grinch”. Finish this cocktail off with minted sugar-rimmed glass for the perfect Christmas punch. It’s both festive and warming, ideal for these cold December nights.
It’s safe to say that when I celebrate a holiday, I do it up right, and this fun drink is no exception. Everyone, say hello to “the Grinch” cocktail. It’s actually a little crazy that I haven’t shared this drink sooner. But it’s finally here and I think all the Who’s down in Whoville would very much approve of this spicy-sweet cocktail.
So cheesy, but hey, it’s Christmas, isn’t everything a little on the cheesy side this time of year?
I’ve wanted to create a drink with the Grinch in mind for three whole years now, but every single December I’ve yet to come up with a mix of ingredients that feels fitting. Finally, just this week, it hit me, the Grinch needs a drink hinted with spice, but sweet throughout. Just like the true Grinch himself. He puts off a bitter cold front, but in the end, his heart is sweet. This drink is just that, the Grinch, but in cocktail form. And it just so happens this drink is insanely delicious…slightly addicting, easy to make…and every bit as fun as you’d think.
Because really, what’s not to love about a cocktail recipe inspired by The Grinch Who Stole Christmas? You know? This. Is. Christmas!
The details.
This cocktail is simple as can be. First, start with the minted sugar. It’s simply just fresh mint and granulated sugar mixed together. But it adds a festive, sweet, and cooling touch to each drink.
Once you rim your glasses in minted sugar, make the drink. In a cocktail shaker or even just a glass jar with a lid (use what you have), shake together a splash…or two, of vodka, a squeeze of fresh lime, a little grapefruit, honey for sweetness, and jalapeños for that spice. Strain into your glass, then top off with ginger beer for even more spice, sweetness, and a touch of fizz too.
I like to add additional mint for serving and pomegranate arils for a pop of color.
Simple and perfect.
If you want to serve this for a holiday party, make the punch version. It serves about four, but can easily be doubled or tripled. I will be for sure be doubling the punch recipe when my family arrives for Christmas later this month. This drink has all of their favorites in one. They will love it.
My suggestion?
Plan to watch The Grinch, make the Grinch cocktail, and enjoy a Saturday night in by the fire.
The perfect night…especially because The Grinch is one of my favorite Christmas movies of all time. No matter how many times I watch it, I never tire of it or want to turn it off. It’s always good…and now it has its own cocktail too!
Hope you all enjoy!
If you make this Spicy Sweet Grinch Cocktail, 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!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Spicy Sweet Grinch Cocktail
A touch of sweet and a little bit spicy...perfectly fitting for "the Grinch".
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2-4 finely chopped fresh mint leaves, plus more for serving
- 2 ounces vodka
- juice from 1/2 lime juice
- juice from 1/2 of a small grapefruit
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1-2 jalapeño slices
- ginger beer for topping
- pomegranate arils, for serving
Instructions
-
1. On a shallow plate, combine the sugar and mint. Rim your glass in sugar, then fill with ice.
2. Combine the vodka, lime juice, grapefruit juice, honey, and jalapeños in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake until combined, about 1 minute. Strain into your prepared glass. Top with ginger beer and garnish as desired. Enjoy!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Spicy Sweet Grinch Punch
A touch of sweet and a little bit spicy...perfectly fitting for "the Grinch".
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, finely chopped, plus more for serving
- 2 cups vodka
- 1 cup lime juice (about 4-6 limes)
- 1 1/2 cups grapefruit (about 3 grapefruits)
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1-2 jalapeño, sliced, to your taste
- 4 (12 ounce) ginger beers, for topping
- pomegranate arils, for serving
Instructions
-
1. Combine the vodka, lime juice, grapefruit juice, honey, and jalapeños in a large pitcher. Stir to combine and chill for 2 hours. The longer the jalapeños sit, the spicier the drink. Strain out the jalapeños and discard. Return the drink to the pitcher and chill until ready to serve.
2. To make the sugar, combine the sugar and mint in a shallow bowl. Rim each glass with sugar before serving.
3. When ready to serve, fill the pitcher with ice and top off with ginger beer. Or fill glasses with the spicy mix and top each glass off with ginger beer.
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This is such a cute and festive idea! 🙂
Thank you so much Sarah! xTieghan
I love this Grinch Cocktail recipe and I plan on making it soon. Where are the glasses from? They are so pretty.
Hi Kirsten! Glasses linked below. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and happy holidays! xTieghan
Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and happy holidays! xTieghan
This has all my favorite flavors!! Can’t wait to try it!
Thank you Tracy! xTieghan
Where can I get those glasses?
Hi Aileen! Linked to the glasses below. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and happy holidays! xTieghan
https://rstyle.me/+YsaedzjSZpiz3jWbdEXgnw
I love all your recipes and have made quite a few!! This will be my first cocktail to try! I want to make it for my family for the Holidays, do you have the measurements for a pitcher?
Hey Emily, the pitcher is listed just below the single cocktail. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and happy holidays! xTieghan
This cocktail was amazing! Perfection.
I can’t seem to find where the glasses are linked on the page.. They would be awesome as a gift for my dad.
– Sophia
Hi!! Glasses linked below. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and happy holidays! xTieghan
https://rstyle.me/+sIOz_nS6wZ5IRgKcnrLnKg
Could you switch out the vodka for tequila in this to make it a margarita?
xx
Hi1 Tequila will be great! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and happy holidays! xTieghan
Made this last night for friends. It looked very festive, and tasted delicious. Instead of the honey I had added 2 Tbs of ginger syrup. As you said the drink has some fun flavors, sweet, spicy. Cannot wait to make it again.
Thank you so much Pauline! I am so glad this turned out so amazing for you! xTieghan
Your cocktails look amazing!! Must get around to actually making one soon ?
Is that fresh jalapenos in the recipe?
Merry Christmas!! ??
Yes it is! I am so glad you like this and I hope you try it over the holidays! Thank you so much Jessika! xTieghan
Great recipe! Do you think it would work with tequila?
HI! Tequila will be great! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and happy holidays! xTieghan
Wow! We loved this drink. My sister said it was the BEST drink she’s ever had! Actually perfect!
Oh wow! That is so amazing! Thank you for trying this Tracy! xTieghan
I am thinking of making this for a progressive New Year’s get together when people stop by our house. What would you suggest serving as an appetizer with this that will compliment the drink and it’s flavors well?
Hi Karla! I would recommend the below 2 recipes. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and Happy New Year! xTieghan
https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/goat-cheese-stuffed-bacon-wrapped-dates/
https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/spinach-and-artichoke-stuffed-soft-pretzels/#bo-recipe
This was the perfect balance of spicy and sweet and so much fun. My guests loved it,
Thank you Sarah! xTieghan
This looks delish. Do you think subbing simple syrup for honey would work?
HI! Yes, simple syrup will be great. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and Happy New Year! xTieghan
Love the recipe! But, I cannot drink grapefruit juice! What can I substitute it for? ☹️
HI! You can use an equal amount of lime juice, orange juice, or blood orange juice. Either will be so great!! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and Happy New Year! xTieghan
This was delicious. I just made it tonight as a test for a cocktail party I’m hosting on Saturday. I also love the glasses. Can I ask where I can purchase from?
Cheers, Tamara
Hi Tamara! I hope you all love this cocktail! The glasses should be on the shop page! Thank you! xTieghan
Made this tonight for my husband and I while we watched the grinch with the kids. so delicious and so fun! Loved it.
Thank you so much Jill! xTieghan
While I enjoyed the flavors and the drink my honey was all congealed and stuck to the bottom of the cocktail shaker. I had to take a spoon and scrape the bottom to get at it. Any suggestions? I love everything you cook, bake and mix up! So does my family!
Hey Colleen,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try! So sorry about the honey, before shaking your mixer I would stir the honey around first. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Would simple syrup work in place of the honey?
Hey Darcie,
Yes, that will work! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
This is definitely my favorite holiday cocktail of your’s. My family requests it each Holiday now!
Hey Maddy,
I am so glad to hear this, thanks for giving it a try! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
If I don’t have vodka, but have tequila, white rum, and gin, do you think one of those would work instead? Which one best? I love spicy cocktails!
Hey Marie,
I would do tequila! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
love this! instead of the rim, i muddled the sugar and a LOT of fresh mint in the shaker before adding the other ingredients. i also used pickled jalapeños (thats what i had on hand) and hot habanero honey and both of these added a deeper heat and spiciness. thanks for sharing this recipe!
Hey Lizzie,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled that it worked out for you! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Have you tried this with any other alcohol? No vodka drinkers in my family:( do you think gin would overpower the flavours?
Hey Nicole,
I think gin or tequila would work well here! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
I ended up buying vodka to make this and I’m glad I did. Sooooo good. You taste the spicy first and then the honey comes through right behind, and the mint sugar rim tops it perfectly.
Hey Marie,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thank you so much for giving it a try! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Made this tonight for my roommate and I and we are obsessed! So delicious, and so many unique flavors. I just discovered your blog like a month ago ( I know, I have been living under a rock lol) and have had so much fun making cocktails and recipes from your site!! Thank you for all your hard work 🙂 Merry Christmas!
Hey Cara,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad you enjoyed! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Hi! What could i use in substation of grape fruit juice? Thanks!
Hey Audrey,
I think orange juice would work well here. I hope you love the recipe! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
My husband and and I LOVE this drink. We modified by substituting Diet Ginger Beer and Truvia for the honey and it is SO good (as are all of your recipes)!
Hey Rebecca,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled that it worked out for you. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Absolutely Fantastic Cocktail! A great blend of flavors. New Family Favorite!!
Hey Whitney,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled that it worked out for you. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Made this for the family for pre dinner cocktails and so delicious! We excluded the mint because a few folks aren’t fans and still so tasty!
Hey Jessica,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled that it worked out for you. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
This cocktail is perfect. The most perfect combo of sweet & spicy. Everyone loved it.
Hey Alex,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled that it worked out for you. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
This drink is incredible! It hits the perfect balance of spicy and sweet. We topped it off with a fair amount of ginger beer and had to use dried mint for the mint-sugar rim, but it worked out perfectly. We’ll be making this again.
Hey Caitlin,
I am so glad you enjoyed the cocktail, thanks so much for giving it a try! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Hey! If we don’t have fresh Grapefruit how much store bought juice should we use?
Hey Amy,
I would say about 1/4 cup. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Hi!
Hope you at able to answer this! I’m gonna have a wedding on a Norwegian barn I’m planning to fill big jars with punch! I’m looking for a recipe that will last all night in a big glass jar ( so not tasting weird after some hours or go flat) any tips ?:))
Kathrine
Hey Katherine,
Here are a few punch recipes:
https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/pumpkin-patch-punch/
https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/holiday-cheermeister-bourbon-punch/
https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/sparkling-christmas-party-punch/
I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan