The Santa Clause Smash.
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.
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.
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!
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?
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!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
The Santa Clause Smash
Celebrating the man of the season with The Santa Clause Smash. This festive cocktail is the perfect cozy winter cocktail that Santa...and all...will love!
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
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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
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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.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
The Santa Clause Punch
Celebrating the man of the season with The Santa Clause Smash. This festive cocktail is the perfect cozy winter cocktail that Santa...and all...will love!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 inch fresh ginger, chopped
- 8 lemon zest strips
- 8 fresh mint leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups pomegranate juice
- 1 1/2 cups bourbon
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 3 (12 ounce) ginger beers or sparkling waters, for topping
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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Christmas Gift Wrapping Ideas.
I was looking at your other cocktail recipes today and thought I’d decided on two… Now I’m not sure haha
Haha that is hard! Which are you deciding between? xTieghan
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.
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
Your instructions mention vodka but that is not listed in the ingredients, typp?
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
Could something like Prosecco work in place of the ginger beer/sparkling water?
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
This looks amazing! I totally want to try this!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
I hope you do! Thank you so much Paige! xTieghan
This sounds and looks great; definitely an ideal drink for the holidays!
Thank you so much Melissa!! I hope you try this! xTieghan
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!!!❤️?
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
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!
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
Just an FYI, you mention a 1/2 of water in the instructions for the syrup but not in the ingredients.
Thank you Elise! xTieghan
Adore your recipes … just FYI, though – It’s spelled Santa Claus (unless you’re making a pun about the movie series “The Santa Clause”).
Oh oops! Thank you so much for this! xTieghan
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!
Thank you so much Elizabeth! xTieghan
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!!!
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
Soooooo good!!!!
Thank you Candise! xTieghan
Which cocktail glasses are these? They’re lovely. Can’t wait to try this cocktail!
Hey Kelsey,
Here is the link for the glasses: https://rstyle.me/+7RK4v39F9RqwbYmAZm0RCw
I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
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?
This was delicious! I couldn’t be bothered to make the syrup so instead I muddled the lemon juice with the ginger, zest, mint and vanilla. Then for the drink I used 3oz. of ginger beer instead of syrup plus topping. Yum! I’m already making this again.
Hey Lara,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! Happy Holidays! xTieghan