Yuletide Moon Red Holiday Cocktail

A festive red holiday cocktail recipe to spice up your party and gatherings! Yuletide Moon is a red wine (Merlot) and bourbon holiday cocktail in an old fashioned glass. Made with cherries, spices, and a bit of maple on the rocks. Tis DIVINE! 

Totally appropriate! Cheers to Friday and all things Festive! Can I interest you in a Red Holiday Cocktail? I think you’re gonna like this one. It has a good story, a fun name, plus it’s tasty.

Now pull up a chair, an old fashion tumbler, and let me make you a Yuletide Moon Red Holiday Cocktail.

You see, I’m wine a lover. You know this. A good red wine or dry white wine. I rarely make cocktails or drink them. Actually, scratch that, I only drink cocktails that you can sip on and savor. Old fashioned cocktails are my jam. . I adore refreshing cocktails, like Mojitos. Or cozy comforting holiday cocktails like a Hot Toddy. Not too sweet or sugary, always smooth. So much better for you too. But you also can’t go wrong with booze in a bite. Um, like Margarita bites or chocolate whiskey bites! YES! In my humble opinion.

Back to my point here. You see, a few weeks ago at BlogHer Convention, my friend Katie introduced to a Negroni. If you don’t know what it is, look it up. Refreshing and AMAZING! Ever since then I’ve been looking for a similar tasting cocktail that incorporated red wine. To make it more of a festive red holiday cocktail. I researched, I played mixologist, and then BAM! I found one.

Actually, it found me, in a recipe newsletter from one of my favorite New Zealand Magazines. There on the front was a recipe for a Yuletide Moon Cocktail. I was intrigued, learning that a Yuletide Moon Cocktail is part merlot, part bourbon, part cherry, part simple syrup, and lemon zest. Sometimes a dash of nutmeg is added.

The recipe for the festive red cocktail will be in your hands in a minute. I won’t leave you hanging.

But first, let me introduce the ROUND UP of the month with my blogging buddies! Yes, we are back. Remember those soup recipes? Well all those lovely ladies (and myself) are back to share our festive holiday cocktail recipes with a healthy spin!

All are gluten free friendly, but feel free to email me for certain brands of liquor if you need suggestions. I’ve researched a ton!

Let the FESTIVE Cocktails begin!

Festive Hot Toddies from Lee at Fit Foodie Finds

Warm your soul with a homemade hot toddy! This adult beverage mixes cinnamon whisky with apple cider and citrus for a delicious winter drink!

Snickerdoodle Martini from Taylor at Food Faith Fitness

Okay, you ready for me to finish my Yuletide Moon Holiday Cocktail story? Of course you are!

So there I was again playing mixologist. Kinda fun, kinda scary. But ya’ll, this Yuletide Moon cocktail was it, the one I had been looking for!  Except I swapped out a few ingredients to make this holiday cocktail a little healthier and more festive. Can you guess the swap?

Orange ya glad I didn’t say banana… Oh me oh my, I’m glad it’s Friday. You can laugh at the puns.

Anyway, all you need to make my version of a Yuletide Moon Red Holiday Cocktail is:

• a good red wine (Merlot works best)
• gluten free bourbon
• maple syrup
• cherries (jarred cherries work too)
• fresh orange or clementine juice
• and a bit of cinnamon or nutmeg.

Nutrition Per Glass

Do you have a favorite Holiday Cocktail? Do share!

Have you ever tried a wine and spirited Red Holiday Cocktail? Um… you need! 

Cheers! Like literally!