If you frequent Applebee’s, you know they often have amazing drink specials, served in their signature mucho glasses! But, the benefit to making your own version at home is that you can tweak it just to your liking. That’s why I love this Tipsy Reindeer drink recipe for the holidays!
What is Applebee’s Tipsy Reindeer?
Applebee’s Tipsy Reindeer is a festive holiday cocktail offered as part of the chain’s Sleigh Bell Sips menu, just one of many drink specials they offer throughout the year.
This punch-style drink features Smirnoff vodka, Ocean Spray cranberry juice, grenadine, and premium lemon sour. Note that in years past, though, instead of grenadine this drink was made with passionfruit syrup or strawberry puree, so there have been some variations over time.
The Tipsy Reindeer is topped with a fun, festive Santa gummy for a whimsical touch of holiday cheer, and served in Applebee’s signature Mucho glass (though you can use whatever you’ve got at home).
This cocktail is available for a limited time during the holiday season, but you can enjoy it year round thanks to my copycat recipe! You’ll also be able to adjust the strength, so if your local restaurant version feels a little too “watered down” then I’ve got you covered!
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Tipsy Reindeer Ingredients
- 2 ounces Smirnoff vodka
- 1 ½ ounces Ocean Spray cranberry juice
- ½ ounce grenadine
- 3 ounces lemon sour rocks mix
- Santa gummy for garnish
Ingredient Tips and Substitutions
- Even though Applebee’s uses Smirnoff vodka, you can use any brand of vodka you like – I use Pinnacle or Tito’s often
- Same for the cranberry juice – feel free to use another brand besides Ocean Spray. I use 100% unsweetened juice, which gives you more control over the sweetness level of the drink, but you can use cranberry cocktail for a sweeter base
- While not entirely the same, you can substitute maraschino cherry juice in place of the grenadine if needed
Historical Variations
Instead of the grenadine which is a change to previous years’ recipes, you can use ½ ounce of Monin red passion fruit syrup or ½ ounce of Finest Call strawberry puree to emulate older versions of this cocktail recipe (or other brands as desired, but this is what Applebee’s uses).
Mocktail Variation
For a kid-friendly mocktail version of this cocktail, try my Rudolph’s Tipsy Spritzer instead. It’s a very similar flavor profile, made with orange juice and soda (ginger ale or lemon-lime soda like Sprite) in place of vodka!
Step By Step Instructions
- Fill a goblet (or similar) glass with ice (crushed or cubes)
- Add vodka, cranberry juice, grenadine, and sour mix to a cocktail shaker along with a few ice cubes
- Shake until well chilled and slightly frothy, about 20-30 seconds, then strain into ice-filled glass
- Garnish with a gummy Santa and enjoy!
- Applebee’s Blue Raspberry Lemon Drop
- Applebee’s Tipsy Zombie Recipe
Recipe FAQs
How Much Does The Tipsy Reindeer Cost?
Applebee’s offers this seasonal cocktail for around $6, making it an affordable holiday indulgence. However, it’s still more cost effective to enjoy it at home!
Note that prices vary slightly depending on location.
Is The Tipsy Reindeer Available To-Go?
Availability for to-go orders depends on local liquor laws and individual Applebee’s locations. It’s best to check with your nearest restaurant for specific details.
If it’s not available to go near you, you can make this copycat version at home instead!
What Does The Tipsy Reindeer Taste Like?
This cocktail has a tart and refreshing flavor profile thanks to its blend of cranberry juice and sour mix.
The touch of vodka adds a smooth, warming kick, while the fruity twist from passion fruit, strawberry, or grenadine (depending on your choice) adds just the right amount of sweetness.
Is This Drink Part Of A Holiday Promotion?
Yes, the Tipsy Reindeer is part of Applebee’s seasonal holiday promotion called Sleigh Bell Sips, which typically includes two festive drinks available for a limited time during the holidays.
This year, the other drink available is the Merry Berry Colada.
Does Applebee’s Offer Any Other Holiday Drinks?
Historically, Applebee’s has also offered a Tipsy Snowman in addition to the Tipsy Reindeer, but this year it has been replaced with the Merry Berry Colada.
They also offer drinks for other holidays, like the Tipsy Cupid for Valentine’s Day, the Tipsy Leprechaun for St. Patrick’s Day, and the Tipsy Zombie for Halloween.
Pro Tips For the Best Tipsy Reindeer Drink
- Feel free to adjust the strength of this drunken Rudolph drink by adding more or less vodka (after all, that’s the beauty of making it at home)! As written, I find it to be a low to medium strength sip that’s not very alcohol-forward
- To adjust the sweetness, you can use cranberry cocktail instead of 100% cranberry juice to make it sweeter, or just tweak the amount of grenadine (or the strawberry puree or passion fruit syrup, depending what you use)
Serving Suggestions And Garnishes
- The traditional garnish for Applebee’s version of the drink is a gummy Santa. However, you could use fresh or frozen cranberries, maraschino cherries, a rosemary sprig, or a slice of lemon if you want something different for your drunk reindeer!
- Glassware. Applebee’s serves the Tipsy Reindeer in one of their signature Mucho glasses. I use water goblets instead, since they’re pretty close in shape! You can also use a hurricane glass, or a red wine glass instead
- If you want to make a batch for parties, scale up the recipe and mix everything together in a large pitcher or punch bowl. Add ice to individual glasses, stir the mixture, and pour to serve!
Final Thoughts
The Tipsy Reindeer drink is a delicious Christmas cocktail that’s a copycat of a classic Applebee’s holiday signature drink. With a sweet, tart, and cranberry-forward flavor profile, it’s delicious, perfect for the season, and sure to be a hit at your holiday parties.
While it’s one of several Christmas drinks they offer, this one is my favorite since it offers a perfect balance of flavors and colored red as a nod to everyone’s favorite red-nosed reindeer! Plus, since it’s served on the rocks, it’s easy to make, which is great for low stress entertaining.
So, if you’re looking for a fruity, fun, and festive mixed drink to serve the adults this holiday season, give this reindeer cocktail a try. Skip the trip to Applebee’s and enjoy it at home, and you can customize it just the way you like, from strength to sweetness, and even flavor!
Katie’s tip
If you still need more drink ideas for your party, then check out my Vodka Cranberry Cocktails which includes seasonal and iconic recipes!
Tipsy Reindeer Drink (Applebee’s Copycat Recipe)
Equipment
- Goblet glass (or similar)
- Shaker (or similar)
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Smirnoff vodka
- 1 ½ ounces Ocean Spray cranberry juice
- ½ ounce grenadine
- 3 ounces lemon sour rocks mix
- 1 Santa gummy (for garnish)
Instructions
- Fill a goblet (or similar) glass with ice (crushed or cubes)
- Add vodka, cranberry juice, grenadine, and sour mix to a cocktail shaker along with a few ice cubes2 ounces Smirnoff vodka, 1 ½ ounces Ocean Spray cranberry juice, ½ ounce grenadine, 3 ounces lemon sour rocks mix
- Shake until well chilled and slightly frothy, about 20-30 seconds, then strain into ice-filled glass
- Garnish with a gummy Santa and enjoy!1 Santa gummy
Notes
- Even though Applebee’s uses Smirnoff vodka, you can use any brand of vodka you like; I use Pinnacle or Tito’s often
- Same for the cranberry juice – feel free to use another brand besides Ocean Spray. I use 100% unsweetened juice, which gives you more control over the sweetness level of the drink, but you can use cranberry cocktail for a sweeter base
- Instead of the grenadine (which is a change to previous years’ recipes), you can use ½ ounce of Monin red passion fruit syrup or ½ ounce of Finest Call strawberry puree to emulate older versions of this cocktail recipe (or other brands as desired, but this is what Applebee’s uses)
- Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, any substitutions, adjustments, or additional garnishes added, and actual quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Nutrition
The applbees i work at makes it with grenadine, cranberry juice, smirnoff and sprite 🙂
I love the additional Applebee’s Insider scoop! Sounds like an interesting tweak and variation for the drink especially if someone doesn’t have sour mix at home.