This Christmas Gin Cocktail, also known as a cranberry gimlet, is sure to impress. A good-quality gin, lime juice, and cranberry syrup are all you need for a cocktail perfect for the holidays!
Save This Recipe!
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Let's face it Christmas is a great season for delicious cocktails like my White Christmas Cocktail, Bourbon Eggnog, and Pumpkin Espresso Martini.
This time of year is all about putting up a Christmas tree, making Cranberry Chutney, wrapping presents, and sipping on a gin cocktail.
Gin's juniper, citrus, and spicy notes make it the perfect holiday spirit, seasonal, sophisticated, and full of flavor.
For this recipe, I've chosen Hendrick's Gin because it's what I have on hand, but feel free to use any premium gin you love.
Below is a recipe for cranberry simple syrup that turns this drink into a festive Red Christmas Gin Cocktail.
Garnishes are optional, but for a festive touch, try Sugared Rosemary, frozen cranberries, and dried orange slices to elevate this cocktail.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Color. I love the red color that cranberry simple syrup gives this cocktail!
- Light and refreshing. Gin, with its light and refreshing floral, spicy, and citrus flavors, offers a nice alternative to overly sweet dessert cocktails.
- It's so beautiful. The festive red color with garnishes like sugared rosemary, frozen cranberries, and dried citrus slices.
- Cranberry Syrup. Cranberries, sugar, orange zest, and cinnamon come together to create the best simple syrup. Store it in a glass jar in the refrigerator for future cocktails.
Ingredients + Substitutions
Here is a visual overview of the Cranberry Gin Cocktail Ingredients and some helpful substitutions. Scroll to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.
Cranberry Simple Syrup Ingredients
Cranberries
To make the simple syrup, use fresh or frozen cranberries, just like in my Cranberry Chutney recipe. Cook the cranberries for only 5 minutes, or until they start to pop. Cooking them longer will release their pectin, turning the mixture into jam instead of a simple syrup.
Orange
Use a vegetable peeler to remove two, 2-inch peels of orange zest and squeeze out 3 tablespoons of orange juice.
Cinnamon
A small amount of cinnamon gives the syrup a festive and delicious flavor!
Sugar
Equal parts of sugar and water are the ratio to make any simple syrup.
I used granulated sugar but you could use maple syrup or honey.
Christmas Gin Cocktail Ingredients
Gin
A good quality gin makes this cocktail special, and we use Hendricks Gin. I love the refreshing floral and citrus notes from Hendricks.
Some other gins to try include Brokers's, Beefeater, Plymouth, or Tangqueray.
You can make a mocktail by swapping gin for sparkling water, I like the lime Topo Chico. Need some non-alcoholic suggestions? My Non-Alcoholic Mulled Wine is a must-make this holiday season.
Limes
Lime juice is used in gimlet recipes and I was lucky to have a lime tree in my front yard. The recipe calls for ¾ ounces of lime juice, about 1.5 limes.
Cranberry Simple Syrup
The cranberry syrup gives the drink a vibrant red color and a delicious sweet-tart flavor. The recipe makes 1 cup, so you can make multiple cocktails with this syrup.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make a Christmas Gin Cocktail
I've provided step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the complete printable instructions and ingredient quantities, please scroll to the recipe card at the end of this post.
Cranberry Simple Syrup Instructions
Step 1. In a saucepan combine cranberries, sugar, water, orange peel, cinnamon, and salt.
Step 2. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, or until the cranberries begin to pop, stirring often. Remove from heat and let the flavors infuse for 15 minutes. Tip - If you cook longer than 5 minutes the mixture will turn into a cranberry sauce.
Step 3. Pour the cranberries into a strainer, place over a bowl, and gently press the cranberries to release extra juice.
Step 4. Transfer your cranberry syrup into a glass jar and store it in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.
Cranberry Gin Cocktail Instructions
Step 1. Fill a cocktail shaker up with ice and add in gin, lime juice, and cranberry syrup. Give the cocktail a good shake until the exterior is cold and frosted. Pour into your desired martini or cocktail glass.
Step 2. Garnishes. Frozen cranberries, sugared rosemary, and dried citrus slices.
Tools
Chef Tips
- For the cranberry syrup, bring the mixture to a boil, and simmer for 5 minutes, any longer and you will make cranberry jam.
- I like to use these Swing Top Bottles to store my cranberry syrup.
- To make this cocktail stunning garnish with frozen cranberries, dried orange slices, and sugared rosemary.
FAQ's
Gin has a light and refreshing taste with flavors of juniper, citrus, and spices like coriander and cardamon.
You can add more cranberry simple syrup to make this cocktail sweeter.
Yes, swap out gin for vodka for delicious cosmopoliton.
Yes, swap out gin for sparkling water like a Lime Topo Chico.
More Holiday Cocktails
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ review below and tag @thefrizzledleek on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!
📖 Recipe
Christmas Gin Cocktail
Equipment
Ingredients
Cranberry Simple Syrup
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 1¼ cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 orange 2 orange peels, and 3 tablespoons of orange juice
- ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon ground
- pinch of salt
Christmas Gin Cocktail
- 2 ounces gin I used Hendrick gin
- ¾ ounce cranberry simple syrup
- ¾ ounce lime juice
- Ice for shaking
- frozen cranberries, sugared rosemary, and dried orange slice for garnish
Instructions
Cranberry Syrup
- Use a vegetable peeler to remove two, 2-inch strips of orange peel. In a saucepan, combine cranberries, water, orange juice, cinnamon, sugar, salt, and the orange peels.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a low simmer. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring often. The mixture will bubble and foam as the cranberries begin to pop and break open.
- Remove from the heat and let the mixture steep for 15 minutes. Strain the syrup into a bowl, gently pressing the cranberry mixture to extract the juices.
- Pour into a beverage bottle and store in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.
Christmas Gin Cocktail
- Fill a cocktail shaker up with ice and add in gin, lime juice, and cranberry syrup.
- Give the cocktail shaker a good shake until the exterior is cold and frosted. Pour into your desired martini or cocktail glass.
- Garnish options are frozen cranberries, sugared romemary, and dried citrus slices.
Notes
- For a non-alcoholic option swap out gin for sparkling water or club soda.
- Replace gin or vodka and you'll have a Cosmopolitan.
- Add more cranberry syrup if you like a sweeter cocktail.
- If you don't have time to do all of these fancy garnishes a fresh rosemary sprig, orange or lime wheel, and a few cranberries will be great.
Nutrition
SAVE THIS RECIPE!
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Cinda Lou RAUPE-HULTNER says
This cocktail is delicious. It presents beautifully. A great Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve spirit.
Mike Cleavenger says
The red vibrant color this cocktail has is perfect for a Christmas Gin Cocktail!