Grinch

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Cocktail History

The Grinch is a Christmas cocktail that was created by food writer Jacy Topps based in New York City, New York who develops recipes for Wine Enthusiast. Inspired by similar viral recipes posted all over the social network TikTok, the drink mimics the color of the popular Christmas villain by using Midori as the main ingredient, and it pairs the melon liqueur with sparking wine, pineapple, vodka, and a splash of lime for balance.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Melon Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with cantaloupe, sugar, and alcohol. We used MIDORI Melon Liqueur because it has a refreshingly sweet flavor and bright green color. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Amoretti Premium Honeydew Melon Syrup in place of the melon liqueur.

Sparkling Wine: This is a carbonated wine made with white or red grapes. We used Villa Bellezza Winery Brillante because it has a light and airy flavor. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Gruvi Non-Alcoholic Prosecco in place of the sparkling wine.

Pineapple Juice: This is the liquid juice of a pineapple. We used freshly squeezed pineapple juice.

Vodka: This is a spirit made with grains, vegetables or fruits, and alcohol. We used Chopin Potato Vodka because it’s made with potatoes and has a full-bodied flavor. For a mocktail version of this drink, try STRYKK Not V*dka in place of the vodka.

Lime Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lime. We used freshly squeezed lime juice.

Cherry: This is a fruit that has been soaked in rich syrup.

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. We used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. We used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.

Pineapple Corer: This is used to remove the core of the pineapple before it’s juiced. We used the OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Pineapple Corer.

Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.

Juicer: This is used to juice citrus, fruits, and vegetables. We used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer for the citrus and the Hamilton Beach Large Juicer for the pineapple.

Cocktail Pick: This is used to hold the garnish.

Tasting Notes

The Grinch has sweet melon aromas and a sugary melon-pineapple flavor that’s lightened with a bit of wine before going out with a strong melon finish.

Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: While this one might be right at home in a shot glass on Christmas Eve at your favorite dive bar, neither of us found the Grinch great as a full-format cocktail. Ironically enough, down one or two too many of these, and they’re certain to steal your entire Christmas too.

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Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐
“Most of my exposure to TikTok drink trends has had me too uninterested to even try them, but we wanted to give this one a shot at least. It was… not for me. It tasted strongly of sweet melon with a hint of pineapple to balance the melon’s sweetness back out, but pineapple isn’t really sour enough to do that all on its own. We added a bit of lime juice to the mix for more tart balance and it did the trick, although the recipe isn’t exactly something I’d go back for. That said, its sweet flavors were plenty tasty, but it might make a better bar shot than a full-format cocktail.”

—

Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐
“I knew from the ratio of Midori to everything else that this was going to be a college bar-style cocktail, but I was willing to give it a try given its popularity online. Unfortunately, I didn’t care for it. Even with Alex’s addition of lime, there was really no saving it for my palate. Our version is at least drinkable, but I don’t think you’ll ever hear me requesting this at Christmastime. The color and concept are fun, but there are many, many other more sophisticated holiday drinks I like a lot more.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was adapted from Wine Enthusiast.

AuthorWine Enthusiast

Make It a Mocktail: Use Amoretti Premium Honeydew Melon Syrup in place of the melon liqueur, Gruvi Non-Alcoholic Prosecco in place of the sparkling wine, and STRYKK Not V*dka in place of the vodka to try a booze-free version of this drink.

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More Christmas Cocktails

If you like this Christmas-inspired cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:

Cranberry Cobbler: A sherry cocktail made with cranberry syrup, orange slices, a mint sprig, and cranberries

Kohler Mint Cocoa: A chocolate mint brandy cocktail made with milk, white peppermint schnapps, dark crème de cacao, cocoa powder, whipped cream, and grated chocolate

Poinsettia Cooler: A tequila cocktail made with cranberry juice, cranberry shrub, lime juice, and cranberries

The Little Donkey: A vodka cocktail made with gingerbread syrup, lime juice, ginger beer, and a cinnamon stick

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