Mistletoe

The Mistletoe, also known as an Absolut Mistletoe, is a holiday vodka cocktail served over ice and in a rocks glass. The Mistletoe is a built drink that combines vodka, cranberry juice, and lime juice, then gets topped with lemon-lime soda for a bubbly finish. A garnish of red currant, often paired with a sprig of mint, gives it that classic holiday red-and-green look.

It’s a build-in-the-glass drink, which means no shaker required. Just a jigger, a rocks glass, and a little holiday spirit.

Fruity, tart and sweet, with a bright citrusy edge. You’ve got the berry tart-sweetness of cranberry juice up front, balanced by zesty lime juice. The lemon-lime soda adds sweetness and effervescence, while the vodka gives the drink both smoothness and body.

Also known as the Absolut Mistletoe, the Mistletoe is an Absolut-branded cocktail and the recipe was first published on the Absolut-owned Tomorrow’s Table website in Swedish to coincide with the holiday period in December 2021.

It is inspired by the Cape Cod (aka Cape Codder) and, in turn, other “Breeze” cocktails. The roots of the Cape Cod are thought to go back to the 1940s, when a cranberry juice producer created a vodka-and-cranberry cocktail to promote their product – sparking a whole wave of “breeze cocktails” (a family of cocktails made with vodka and cranberry juice) through the 1970s and beyond.

• Build directly in the glass.
  Like most vodka-cranberry-soda drinks, the Mistletoe is made straight in an ice-filled rocks glass. No shaking, no straining.
• Use fresh lime juice
  Fresh lime makes a real difference in a drink this simple. Squeeze it fresh every time. A bottled substitute will technically work, but it won’t be as zesty and tasty.
• Start with cold mixers
  Chill your cranberry juice and lemon-lime soda before you build your drink. Cold ingredients over ice means a colder, better drink.
• Add the soda last and go easy on the stir
  Pour the lemon-lime soda in gently and give it just one or two slow turns with a bar spoon. Overstirring knocks out the carbonation, and a flat Mistletoe is a sad Mistletoe.

The combination of vodka and cranberry juice is the foundation for any type of breeze cocktail – a family of drinks that gained popularity during the 70s.

• Cape Cod (aka Cape Codder)
  The one that started it all. Both the Mistletoe and a classic Cape Code share the same three ingredients – vodka, cranberry juice and lime juice but in different measures and with different garnishes.  Check out our Cape Cod recipe.
• Sea Breeze
  Inspired by the Cape Code, the Sea Breeze is a classic in its own right. Made with vodka, cranberry juice, and grapefruit juice and it’s a perfect summer drink. Discover the recipe for a Sea Breeze cocktail.
  
• The Greyhound
  Love grapefruit? This one dials it up. It mixes Absolut Grapefruit together with fresh grapefruit juice for a sharp, zesty drink. Check out the recipe for The Greyhound.
• Easy Breeze
  Equal parts vodka and cranberry juice, finished with an orange wedge. Simple, bright, and perfect for summer. Here’s how to make an Easy Breeze cocktail.

• We recommend making and serve the Mistletoe in a rocks glass or old fashioned glass over ice. However, if you want to go taller and more sparkling, a Collins or highball glass is a solid option for a longer, more effervescent presentation.
• Garnish with a sprig of red currant and a sprig of mint. The red and green combination is a deliberate holiday nod, and it works beautifully.
• Make a batch of Mistletoe cocktails: If you’re serving a crowd during the holidays, batching the Mistletoe is the way to go. Just follow the recipe on this page and scale it up to fit your guest list.

  If you’re batching the Mistletoe, floating fresh cranberries and lemon wheels in a punch bowl or pitcher gives you a big visual payoff for almost no effort.