Name: The Ellen Griswold Rum Christmas Cocktail
Prep time: 3 min
Total time: 3 min
Ingredients: 2 oz. White Rum; 1 oz. Amaretto; 4 oz. Orange Juice; Cherry & Orange Garnish (optional)

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There is no better time of year than the holiday season to enjoy a cocktail that is quick and easy to make. This easy Rum Christmas Cocktail does the trick. With only 3 ingredients, you can build this in under 3 minutes and have guests imbibing and happy in no time.

If you’ve never had a cocktail with Amaretto, this is an excellent way to usher in the sweet almond flavor that Amaretto imparts. Paired with Orange Juice, this Rum Christmas Cocktail is sweet, refreshing, and has just enough kick to calm you down after a long battle shopping for last-minute stocking stuffers at the mall.

Why you’ll love this recipe:

When you need a quick drink recipe to serve guests, or you’re just too tired to get out 7 different ingredients and all the bar tools and whistles, this drink comes to your rescue. This is a super simple recipe with only 3 ingredients, yet it is surprisingly flavorful and serves up just enough festive flair for the holidays. You can build this over ice directly in your glass without needing any special tools and you’ll have fewer dishes to wash. That’s a win-win in my book.

Ingredients needed for this Rum Christmas Cocktail:

Light Rum. You can also use Gold Rum for a more robust flavor.
Amaretto. This is a sweet Almond liqueur. Disaronno or Di Amore are easy-to-find options.
Orange Juice. While I typically recommend fresh squeezed, you can get away with bottled OJ for this drink. The idea is quick and easy!
Green Cocktail Cherry. This is an optional garnish. You can also use red maraschino cherries.
Orange. This is also an optional garnish.

Tools you will need:

Measuring Jigger
Your favorite Holiday glass
Cocktail Pick (if using a garnish)

How to make this Rum Christmas Cocktail:

Fill your glass with ice.
Pour in the Rum, Amaretto, and Orange juice. Stir to combine. And you’re done.
If you want to get fancy with it, garnish with a green cherry and an orange wedge skewered on a cocktail pick.
Cheers!

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What is Amaretto and can I substitute it?

Amaretto is a sweet Italian liqueur that originated in Saronno, Italy. It has a sweet nutty flavor with slightly bitter notes. It is often made from almonds but can also be made from apricot pits and still have the almond flavor. Disaronno is the most popular brand option and is still made in Saronno.

If you don’t have Amaretto or can’t find it the best substitutes for this drink are hazelnut liqueur like Frangelico or a macadamia nut liqueur like Trader Vic’s Macadamia Nut Liqueur. It needs to be a sweet nutty liqueur to maintain the flavor balance with the orange juice.

How to make this for a crowd:

This is a great cocktail recipe for a large crowd too. Find a pitcher and multiply each ingredient by the number of drinks you want to serve. Stir to combine, then pour over ice. You can easily prepare this for guests to serve themselves by setting out the pre-made pitcher of the cocktail alongside an ice bucket of fresh ice and a set of Christmas glasses.

When to enjoy a Rum Christmas Cocktail:

When the Eggnog has run out.
After you discovered your 2nd cousin finished the last of the gourmet sausage and tempers must be cooled.
When a little more nuttiness this time of year really won’t matter.
After the neighbors dropped off a surprise fruitcake and you need something to wash it down with.
After relocating the Christmas present cache for the 3rd time.

More Holiday Cheer: