My "Santa Hat" Cocktail Will Keep You Holly Jolly All December
There’s nothing I love more than twinkling lights and cozy vibes this time of year. Luckily there is no shortage of seasonal cocktails to sip, from warm and spiced German glühwein to cool cranberry margaritas. The drink I’m pouring all season takes inspiration from Santa Claus himself. I’m adding holiday magic to one of my favorite cocktails, the whiskey sour, by shaking up a drink that tastes like winter and looks just like Santa’s hat.
For a santa hat sour, I’m swapping the whiskey for Campari to add a ruby-red hue and bittersweet orange flavor to my glass. It’s shaken with lemon juice, simple syrup, and an egg white, which gives this riff on a classic cocktail its distinctive Santa-hat style.
Why You’ll Love It
The flavor is balanced and not too bitter. Fresh lemon juice and simple syrup balance Campari’s bitter orange flavor for a winter cocktail that’s perfect for sipping.
It’s so festive! The stacked hues of red and white make this drink look just like Santa’s hat.
Key Ingredients in a Santa Hat Sour
Campari: This red Italian aperitif gives the drink its santa-hat color and a bitter orange flavor.
Lemon juice: Squeeze 1 1/2 ounces juice from 1 lemon. (This is my favorite citrus juicer.)
Simple syrup: Simple syrup is granulated sugar dissolved in water. It’s a common ingredient in cocktails because it blends seamlessly into cold liquids. It’s easy to make and lasts a long time in the refrigerator.
Egg white: Egg white rounds out the flavor of this drink and adds a snowy white layer of foam to the top of the ruby-hued cocktail. If you’re nervous about using a raw egg white, opt for a pasteurized egg white or omit it altogether (though you’ll miss out on the frothy white cap from which this drink gets its name).
Fresh rosemary: Add half of a fresh rosemary sprig to the cocktail shaker to add a woodsy, herbal note, and reserve the rest of the sprig for garnish.
How to Make Santa Hat Sour
Chill the glass. A coupe glass makes this drink feel extra-festive, though you can also use an old-fashioned glass. Chill the glass in the refrigerator or freezer first to keep the drink cold without watering it down.
Dry shake the drink. Shaking the cocktail ingredients before adding the ice helps to incorporate the egg white.
Shake with ice. Add ice and shake again until the outside of the cocktail shaker is frosty.
Strain into the glass. Pour the drink through a strainer into the chilled glass, allowing a frothy white cap to rise to the top of the Campari cocktail.
More Holiday Cocktails
Santa Hat Sour Cocktail Recipe
Campari gives this drink its festive hue.
Prep time 5 minutes
Makes 1 drink
Ingredients
1 (3- to 4-inch) fresh rosemary sprig, halved
1 1/2 ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice (from 1 medium lemon)
1 1/2 ounces Simple Syrup
1 ounce Campari
1 large egg white
Ice
Instructions
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Refrigerate or freeze a coupe or old-fashioned glass for at least 5 minutes.
Place 1/2 fresh rosemary sprig, 1 1/2 ounces lemon juice, 1 1/2 ounces simple syrup, 1 ounce Campari, and 1 large egg white in a cocktail shaker. Seal and shake vigorously for 10 seconds. (This is referred to as a “dry shake.” It’s good for incorporating the egg white before adding ice to the shaker.)
Fill the shaker halfway with ice, seal again, and shake until the outside of the shaker is very frosty, about 20 seconds. Pour through a strainer into the glass. Garnish with the remaining 1/2 fresh rosemary sprig.
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