This Holiday Gin and Tonic is full of the festive flavours of cranberry and clementine, and it’s made with sweet sloe gin. It’s the perfect cocktail to serve over the holidays as it’s easy to mix and a gorgeous, festive colour. This is going to be your new favourite G&T.
There are few things I enjoy more than coming up with delicious and creative new cocktail recipes, from twists on the classics to my own original creations. With that being said, sometimes a simple classic mixed drink is exactly what I want and need, and a gin and tonic is definitely somewhere near the top of my list of favourites. The fragrant botanicals of the gin, the bitter quinine of the tonic, and the citrus burst from the lemon or lime twist is just a winning combination. It’s a great drink to serve at any occasion. But, because it’s Christmas, I decided to dress it up a little for the festive season, and this Holiday Gin and Tonic was born!
Before we go any further, let’s just quickly talk about how freakin’ cute these bauble glasses are! Adorbs right?! I found them at one of my favourite little stores, it’s called Joy and there are a number of branches scattered around London. If you’re ever in London and you come across a branch, I definitely recommend popping in and having a look around! No, I’m not being paid to say this! I just love their clothes, and they have adorable and funny homewares too. Plus, they give an NHS discount which, as an NHS worker, I’m all about! Of course, this Holiday Gin and Tonic does not need to be served in a super cute Christmas bauble glass, that’s just a fun and festive extra!
So, this Holiday Gin and Tonic? What makes it so festive? Well it’s made with sloe gin, which may not be inherently festive but the colour of it sure is – plus it adds a delicious sweetness to the drink which makes you feel like you’re indulging more than a regular G&T. Added to the sloe gin is also regular gin, just so you can get some extra botanicals in there to make your Holiday Gin and Tonic nicely fragrant. Then we also have a homemade cranberry shrub, I post the really easy recipe for that here, and nobody can deny this tart and tangy cranberry shrub is full of festive cheer! The mixers we use in this Holiday Gin and Tonic are clementine juice, because clementines are one of my favourite winter citrus’s and I love them using them in festive recipes. As well as the fresh clementine juice we are also using, of course, tonic! You obviously can’t have a Holiday Gin and Tonic without the Tonic! The kind of tonic you use in this Holiday Gin and Tonic, or any Gin and Tonic, is very important. I really, really encourage you to use a good quality tonic, you’re going to spend a little more money but it is totally worth it! My favourite brand to use is Fever Tree personally.
The garnish on this Holiday Gin and Tonic is a sugar frosted rosemary sprig. I love the fragrance it gives off as you sip your drink, and they’re like little, snowy Christmas trees garnishing your glass – so much fun. They’re really easy to make as well. Just cover the rosemary sprig in simple syrup and then sprinkle sugar all over. Easy! Of course, if you prefer, you can just use an unfrosted rosemary sprig to garnish your Holiday Gin and Tonic, but I think the sugar frosted version is so much more fun! Okay, get your Santa hat on, and let’s get mixing!
Holiday Gin & Tonic
Prep
Total
Yield 3 cocktails
This Holiday Gin and Tonic is full of the festive flavours of cranberry and clementine. This is going to be your new favourite G&T.
Ingredients
For the sugar frosted rosemary sprigs:
- 3 rosemary sprigs
- 2 tbsp simple syrup
- 2 tbsp sugar
For the Holiday G&T:
- 2 oz sloe gin
- 1 oz gin
- 1 oz cranberry shrub
- 4 dashes orange bitters
- 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1.5 oz clementine juice
- 3-4 oz good quality tonic water
Instructions
To make the frosted rosemary sprigs:
- Put the simple syrup on a shallow plate, and gently dredge the rosemary sprigs through it. Sprinkle the sugar over the top. Set aside to dry while you mix the G&Ts
To make the Holiday Gin and Tonic:
- Put both the gins, cranberry shrub, bitters, lemon juice, and clementine juice in a mixing glass with a handful of ice. Stir to chill.
- Pour betwen your glasses (filled with ice if you're using a glass you can actually put ice in, unlike me!) and top up with tonic water - add more or less depending on how much tonic you usually like in your G&T
- Garnish with the frosted rosemary sprigs
Notes
Calorie information is generated using an app and therefore may not be completely accurate, it should be used for guidance only.
Courses Cocktails
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 drink
Amount Per Serving | ||
|---|---|---|
Calories 140 | ||
% Daily Value |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
