What does a Poinsettia cocktail taste like?
A Poinsettia tastes like a tart, ruby-red mimosa: cranberry juice and a little orange liqueur topped with sparkling wine, light, fizzy and gently sweet.
Poinsettia
cranberry bubbly, festive
A Poinsettia is sparkling wine with cranberry juice and a splash of orange liqueur like Cointreau or triple sec. Cranberry brings a tart, slightly puckery edge, the orange liqueur softens it, and the bubbles keep everything light. It tastes like a cosmopolitan that swapped vodka for Champagne. It's named for the red holiday plant, and the color is the whole point: it looks like Christmas in a flute. Sweetness depends on the juice. Cranberry cocktail is sweeter, while pure cranberry makes it noticeably sharper.
Where you’ll see it
On holiday brunch menus and New Year's Eve drink lists, served in a Champagne flute, often with a few cranberries or a sprig of rosemary floating on top.
Order it if you want something bubbly and festive that is lighter than a cocktail.
Quick questions
- What is in a Poinsettia cocktail?
- Sparkling wine (Champagne, prosecco or cava), cranberry juice and a little orange liqueur. Some bars skip the liqueur or add vodka.
- Is a Poinsettia the same as a mimosa?
- Close, but a mimosa uses orange juice. A Poinsettia uses cranberry juice, so it is tarter and red instead of orange.