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Sure to bring holiday cheer to any gin lover, this Christmas Gin Recipe is a festive delight. Made with the perfect balance of gin, homemade simple syrup with a hint of spice, cranberry juice, and a splash of soda water, these delicious festive cocktails are a great way to celebrate the holiday season.

Two glasses of Christmas gin on a white table with rosemary, cinnamon stick, and a Christmas tea towel.

❤️ Why you will love this recipe

  • Easy: This recipe is made in two easy steps: the rosemary cinnamon simple syrup, and then the cocktail.
  • Tastes amazing: Cranberry, cinnamon, and rosemary laced with gin, this Christmas gin recipe has the perfect flavor for the festive season.
  • No extra gadgets needed: No need for a cocktail shaker or any other fancy cocktail-making gadgets. All I used was a shot glass, a tablespoon, and a regular spoon.
  • Make a batch: I like to make a batch of 8 at a time to serve at my holiday party every year. It’s such a great option when entertaining a crowd!
  • Make it anytime: Although I enjoy this cranberry gin drink at Christmas time, you can really make it any time of year. It’s served over ice so great for a refreshing cocktail in the summer, and it can also be the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving dinner table.

🗝️ Key Ingredients & Substitutions

  • Gin: Pain, unflavored, dry gin with no added sweeteners or sugar. The exact type I used this time was Graveney Gin’s festive fair, but any gin like Hendrick’s will be great!
  • Brown Sugar: I made a brown sugar simple syrup by adding equal parts brown sugar and water to a pot on the stove. White sugar, allulose, or coconut sugar can be used to make simple syrup if needed.
  • Rosemary & cinnamon: To make the simple syrup a little more special for this festive theme, I added a cinnamon stick and a sprig of fresh rosemary (which reminds me of a little Christmas tree!). I left these festive spices in the simple syrup overnight to really intensify the flavors. It’s delicious!
  • Cranberry juice: The fruit of the season, cranberry juice adds the perfect amount of sweetness and tartness. Orange juice, pomegranate juice, or apple juice are good substitutes if needed.
  • Club soda: To top it up and add a little fizz I poured in some soda water. Ginger ale (or ginger beer) is a great alternative or even sparkling apple or orange juice.
  • Garnishes: I garnish these festive gin cocktails with a few frozen cranberries (to keep it cooler for longer), a cinnamon stick, and a sprig of rosemary. You could also add an orange slice or use fresh cranberries instead of frozen ones. Star anise also always looks great in winter cocktails.

🥣 How to make this Christmas Gin Cocktail Recipe

Simple syrup

1. Heat ingredients: Add the brown sugar and water to a small pot on the stove over low heat, along with the rosemary and the cinnamon stick.

2. Melt: Stir the pot occasionally until the sugar is melted.

3. Cool: Turn off the heat, and allow the simple syrup to cool to room temperature.

4. Store in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to a month (or until it begins to turn cloudy). I left my rosemary and cinnamon in the jar for a week to intensify the flavor.

Christmas Cocktail

1. Add ice: Begin by placing ice into a rocks glass. I like to use a large ice cube as it melts slower and doesn’t water the drink down as much.

2. Gin: Pour in a single shot of gin.

Gin being poured over ice in a glass.

3. Simple syrup: Add a tablespoon of rosemary and cinnamon brown sugar simple syrup.

Simple syrup, gin, and ice in a glass.

4. Cranberry juice: Pour in the cranberry juice until the glass is half full.

Pouring cranberry juice over ice in a glass.

5. Top up: Top the gin mixture up the rest of the way with club soda (or ginger beer).

Pouring soda water into a glass with cranberry juice and ice.

6. Stir: Stir the ingredients in the glass with a spoon.

Stirring ingredients in a glass with ice.

7. Garnish & serve: Garnish with a cinnamon stick, fresh rosemary, and frozen cranberries for a festive finish, and enjoy!

Side shot of Two glasses of Christmas gin on a white table with rosemary, cinnamon stick, and a purple, yellow, and green shot glass.

🫙 Storage Instructions

Store the simple syrup in an airtight container like a sealed jar or glass bottle in the fridge for up to a month. Remove and discard the rosemary and cinnamon stick no more than a week after making.

🪄 Recipe Notes & Tips

  • Stronger flavour: For a stronger flavor, add an extra sprig of fresh rosemary and cinnamon stick to the simple syrup, and leave them in the simple syrup jar for a week.
  • Make-ahead: It’s a good idea to make the simple syrup ahead, even one day before you need to serve it. It will last for a month in the fridge.
  • Alcohol-free: If you’re looking for a nice nonalcoholic alternative to this recipe, just skip the gin. I highly recommend topping it up with a fiery ginger bug or ginger beer instead of soda water in this case – it makes a difference!

❓ How to make a large batch (for 8 servings)

If you’re hosting a Christmas dinner party or other holiday parties, you’ll want to make a large batch to serve guests with ease. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 12oz (355ml) dry gin
  • 1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) rosemary & cinnamon simple syrup
  • 2 cups (500ml) cranberry juice
  • Soda water or ginger beer to top up

Mix the gin, simple syrup, and cranberry juice in a large jug. Pour into a rocks glass with ice until the glass is half full. Top up with soda water or ginger beer and serve!

🎄 Looking for more Christmas Cocktail Recipes?

Check out my easy Slow Cooker Mulled Wine Recipe, and my Christmas Margaritas are perfect for any holiday occasion!

Two glasses of Christmas gin on a white table with rosemary, cinnamon stick, and a Christmas tea towel.

😋 More Christmas recipes you will love

Have you made this recipe? I’d love to know <3 Tag me (@makehealthyrecipes) on Facebook and InstagramPin it on Pinterest, and please give it 5 stars with a review below! Don’t forget to subscribe to the email list (top right of this page) for sparkly new recipes in your inbox.

📖 Recipe

Two glasses of Christmas gin on a white table with rosemary, cinnamon stick, and a Christmas tea towel.

Christmas Gin Recipe

Bethany Galloway
Sure to bring holiday cheer to any gin lover, this Christmas Gin Recipe is a festive delight. Made with the perfect balance of gin, homemade simple syrup with a hint of spice, cranberry juice, and a splash of soda water, these delicious festive cocktails are a great way to celebrate the holiday season.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine British
Servings 1 serving
Calories 160 kcal

Ingredients
  

Rosemary & Cinnamon Simple Syrup

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 spring fresh rosemary
  • 1 cinnamon stick

Christmas Gin Cocktail

  • 1 shot of dry gin
  • 1 tablespoon Rosemary and Cinnamon Simple Syrup
  • 1/4 cup 4 tablespoons Cranberry juice
  • Soda water or ginger beer to top up

Instructions
 

Simple syrup

  • Add the brown sugar and water to a small pot on the stove over low heat, along with the rosemary and cinnamon stick.
    Rosemary and cinnamon in a stainless steel pot with brown sugar simple syrup.
  • Stir the pot occasionally until the sugar is melted.
  • Turn off the heat, and allow the simple syrup to cool to room temperature.
  • Store in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to a month (or until it begins to turn cloudy). I left my rosemary and cinnamon in the jar for a week to intensify the flavor.

Christmas Gin Cocktail

  • Begin by placing ice into a rocks glass. I like to use a large ice cube as it melts slower and doesn't water the drink down as much.
  • Pour in a single shot of gin.
    Gin being poured over ice in a glass.
  • Add a tablespoon of rosemary and cinnamon brown sugar simple syrup.
    Simple syrup, gin, and ice in a glass.
  • Pour in the cranberry juice until the glass is half full.
    Pouring cranberry juice over ice in a glass.
  • Top the gin mixture up the rest of the way with club soda (or ginger beer).
    Pouring soda water into a glass with cranberry juice and ice.
  • Stir the ingredients in the glass with a spoon.
    Stirring ingredients in a glass with ice.
  • Garnish with a cinnamon stick, fresh rosemary, and frozen cranberries for a festive finish, and enjoy!
    Two glasses of Christmas gin on a white table with rosemary, cinnamon stick, and a Christmas tea towel.

Notes

  • Stronger flavour: For a stronger flavor, add an extra sprig of fresh rosemary and cinnamon stick to the simple syrup, and leave them in the simple syrup jar for a week.
  • Make-ahead: It's a good idea to make the simple syrup ahead, even one day before you need to serve it. It will last for a month in the fridge.
  • Alcohol-free: If you're looking for a nice nonalcoholic alternative to this recipe, just skip the gin. I highly recommend topping it up with a fiery ginger beer instead of soda water in this case – it makes a difference!
  • How to make a large batch (for 8 servings)

    If you're hosting a Christmas dinner party or other holiday parties, you'll want to make a large batch to serve guests with ease. Here's what you'll need:
    • 12oz (355ml) dry gin
    • 1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) rosemary & cinnamon simple syrup
    • 2 cups (500ml) cranberry juice
    • Soda water or ginger beer to top up
    Mix the gin, simple syrup, and cranberry juice in a large jug. Pour into a rocks glass with ice until the glass is half full. Top up with soda water or ginger beer and serve!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 160kcalCarbohydrates: 16gSodium: 4mgSugar: 15g
    Keyword christmas cocktail, christmas drink, cocktail, easy, gin, gin cocktail. festive, holiday drink, quick
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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