I Tried the Viral "Christmas Tree Cocktail" Party Trick

Whether you’re serving your favorite batch of non-alcoholic holiday mocktails, or going with a swanky cocktail, it’s always fun to find clever ways to make your party drinks even more magical. While using some of our favorite holiday scents can work as a garnish — like pomegranate seeds, cinnamon sticks, cranberries, or even dried slices of oranges—there’s something particularly festive about adding a sprig of rosemary to your holiday beverage. So of course, when I recently came across a holiday cocktail that not only added a sprig of rosemary but also turned your drink into a snow globe, I was sold.

This particular idea came from a creator on Instagram who, with a few easy steps, was able to turn her drink into a sparkling little snow globe with a dancing “tree” in the center (a.k.a., your rosemary).

While this particular cocktail craft seems easy, I couldn’t help but want to test it out myself. Could you really freeze a sprig of rosemary upright in a glass like that, and will it look like a snow globe when you pour in your sparkling beverage? The answer, to my delight, is yes! After testing out this holiday cocktail, I have to admit, it’s just as adorable as it seems on camera — and it’s the only way I will be serving drinks to my guests this holiday season.

Here’s a step-by-step process on how to make your own snow globe cocktail, as well as some drink ideas to add to your glass with your little festive tree!

Step one: Fill the bottom of your glass with water.

Pick out your favorite fancy glass for your holiday cocktail; just make sure it’s tall enough to fit a rosemary sprig in it, such as a tumbler, Champagne flute, or a high ball. Fill the bottom of the glass with water — I would recommend a quarter of the glass. Make sure the glass is freezer-safe.

Step two: Add a rosemary sprig.

Pick out the prettiest rosemary sprig of the bunch. Place it in the glass upside down so the little leaves are facing down like a Christmas tree. You can also trim the bottom of the sprig so it stands upright in the glass. For some shorter glasses, you could tie the sprig with a bit of string and secure the string with a toothpick at the top so it stays upright.

Step three: Freeze (at least four hours).

Place the glasses with the sprigs in your freezer, and leave it for at least four hours to freeze completely. When it’s finished, the water should be solid ice and your rosemary sprig should sit in the glass upright.

Step four: Fill with your drink.

Fill your drink with your favorite holiday cocktail! For the full “snow globe” effect, choose something clear and sparkling — like a vodka/tequila soda or a gin and tonic. You could also keep things alcohol-free and simply fill the glass with your favorite flavored sparkling water. If you want something with a little more pizzazz, you could also try one of these festive winter cocktail recipes in the glass; just be sure to pick something that has a lighter/clearer liquid so you can still see the little tree!