Snowball
Advocaat, lime and lemonade with a dusting of nutmeg. The British Christmas classic, ready in three minutes.
- Time
- 3 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Glass
- Coupe
- Strength
- 0.9 UK units
How to make a Snowball
- Chill the glass. Put the glass in the freezer for a few minutes, or fill it with ice water while you measure, then tip the water out.
- Add advocaat and lime. Pour in the advocaat and the lime juice, then stir with a bar spoon until smooth.
- Top with lemonade. Top up slowly with cold lemonade, pouring down the side of the glass so it doesn't foam over. Lift once with the spoon to mix.
- Finish with nutmeg. Grate a little nutmeg over the top and serve straight away.
- Glass
- CoupeNo coupe? A tall glass over ice cubes, the way pubs used to serve it.
- Ice
- No ice
- Garnish
- A grating of nutmegOr: A cocktail cherry.
What you need to make a Snowball
Kit
JiggerA double-ended measure, usually 25 ml and 50 ml.
Bar spoonA long teaspoon does the job.
Citrus squeezerFresh juice makes the biggest difference of anything.
Bottles we'd use
- AdvocaatWarninks is the classic; supermarket own-brands are fine for a Snowball.Find it on Amazon
- Clear lemonadeSomething not too sweet, such as Fentimans or R. White's.Find it on Amazon
Links to Amazon are affiliate links: if you buy through them, Bar Bandol may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Snowball variations and swaps
Many classic recipes use lime cordial rather than fresh juice. Use 15 ml of cordial in place of the lime juice for that old-fashioned flavour, and taste before you add more, as it is sweeter. For a lighter drink, use 40 ml of advocaat and 85 ml of lemonade. For a stronger one, stir in 15 ml of brandy. Serving a crowd? Stir 300 ml of advocaat and 90 ml of lime juice together in a jug for six drinks and keep it in the fridge. Pour 65 ml into each glass, then top with 75 ml of lemonade so the fizz stays lively.
The Snowball story
The Snowball was a fixture of British Christmases from the 1950s to the 1970s, poured from the one bottle of advocaat that came out once a year. It fell out of fashion, then came back as everyone remembered how good it actually tastes.
Advocaat is a Dutch liqueur of egg yolk, sugar and brandy. Lime and lemonade cut through its richness and turn it into something light and fizzy.
Snowball: your questions answered
What is in a Snowball?
A Snowball is made with 50 ml advocaat, 15 ml fresh lime juice and 75 ml lemonade. Garnish: a grating of nutmeg.
How strong is a Snowball?
Made to this recipe, a Snowball contains about 0.9 UK units of alcohol per drink. That is worked out from typical bottle strengths, so it changes with the bottles you use. UK guidelines advise not regularly drinking more than 14 units a week.
What glass do you serve a Snowball in?
Serve a Snowball in a coupe. No coupe? A tall glass over ice cubes, the way pubs used to serve it.
