Christmas Spritz
A festive spritz of prosecco, elderflower liqueur and cranberry topped with soda, finished with a rosemary sprig and fresh berries.
Ingredients
- 60 ml prosecco — well chilled, brut
- 30 ml elderflower liqueur — such as St-Germain
- 30 ml pure cranberry juice — unsweetened
- 30 ml soda water — well chilled
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary — for garnish
- 5 fresh cranberries — for garnish
- 1 strip orange peel — for garnish
- 1 handful cubed ice — for the glass
Method
- Fill a large wine glass generously with cubed ice and chill it briefly.
- Pour in the elderflower liqueur and cranberry juice and stir gently with a bar spoon.
- Top with the prosecco, pouring slowly down the side of the glass to keep the bubbles intact.
- Add the soda water on top to lengthen the cocktail without flattening it.
- Express the orange peel over the surface, drop it into the glass with the cranberries and rosemary sprig, and serve at once.
How to serve
- Glassware
- Large wine glass
- Serve temperature
- Ice cold
- Garnish
- Rosemary sprig, cranberries and orange peel
The spritz has spent the last decade quietly becoming a universal cocktail format, light enough to drink before dinner and forgiving enough to suit almost any palate. The Christmas Spritz dresses the formula in festive colours and aromas, swapping the bittersweet orange of an Aperol for the floral lift of elderflower and the tart sparkle of cranberry. It is the kind of glass guests reach for before they even take their coats off.
Why proportions matter
A good spritz is built around three rough parts: bubbles, liqueur and lengthener. Here the prosecco carries the structure, the elderflower liqueur supplies sweetness and aroma, and the cranberry juice ties the colour and flavour together. Soda water keeps it easy to drink across a long evening so the cocktail never feels heavy.
Garnish like you mean it
A spritz is a generous-looking drink and the garnish should match. A rosemary sprig adds a pine-like aroma every time the glass is lifted, while a strip of orange peel expressed across the surface brings a citrus shimmer. Fresh cranberries bob attractively in the ice and reinforce the festive theme.
A gentle nod to Hot Apple Gin
If your guests fall in love with the elderflower and cranberry pairing here, you will probably notice them gravitating toward Hot Apple Gin later in the evening, where similar orchard and herbaceous notes appear in a warming mug. The two drinks make a lovely arc through a long Christmas night.
Frequently asked questions
How is a Christmas Spritz different from an Aperol Spritz?
The format is the same, but the flavour profile is gentler and more wintry. Elderflower and cranberry replace the bittersweet orange of Aperol, giving a softer, floral cocktail with a festive ruby colour.
Can I make a non-alcoholic version?
Swap the prosecco for a good alcohol-free sparkling wine and use an elderflower cordial instead of the liqueur. The cocktail keeps its character and remains beautifully balanced.
Which glassware works best?
A large wine glass is the traditional spritz vessel because it holds plenty of ice and concentrates the aromas just below the rim. A balloon gin glass also works well.
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