There is only one spirit I think you should be enjoying at the moment, and these four Gin cocktails for Christmas will definitely get you in the festive mood!
Cranberry and Sloe Gin Martini
Taking my inspiration from Cocktail Maestro, Salvatore Calabrese, I’ve switched out the orange marmalade in his Breakfast Martini (here’s the Four Pillar’s Gin version) and replaced it with cranberry jelly and used sloe gin instead of Cointreau. You could also muddle the gin with fresh cranberries if they are available.
Ingredients
50ml Fords Gin
15 ml Sloe Gin
15ml lemon juice
1 teaspoon of cranberry jelly
(optional rosemary sprig to garnish)
Method
Add all of the ingredients to an ice-filled shaker and rattle away vigorously until the shaker is very cold. Strain into a chilled glass. Add a sprig rosemary.
French 75
This is a favourite celebratory cocktail chez GQHQ, I think gin and champagne are a perfect match.
Ingredients
45ml Sipsmith Gin
15ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
8ml simple syrup
Champagne, for topping up.
Method
Shake the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker full of ice. Strain into a chilled champagne flute and top up with bubbles! Garnish with a sliver of lemon peel.
Sloe Gin Champagne Fizz
Sipsmith’s Master Distiller, Jared Brown, tweeted me the recipe for this one and it is so delicious! I doubt whether you will be able to stop at one!
Ingredients
25ml Sipsmith Sloe Gin
25ml Lemon juice
1 egg white
Champagne
Method
Dry shake (without ice) gin, lemon juice and egg white for about a 30 seconds, add ice and then shake again until chilled. Strain into a chilled glass and top with champagne!
Hendrick’s Gin Tenured Punch
Punches are a great stand-by when you have lots of guests, and are very easy to make. This version can even be made a little in advance, just don’t add the ice too early!
Ingredients
700ml Hendrick’s Gin
450 ml Lemon juice
450 ml Simple sugar syrup
450 ml sparkling water
1.1 litres of green tea (cooled)
250ml of Lillet Blanc
Dash of Angostura Bitters
Cucumber wheels and/or lemon slices for garnish.
Method
Mix all the ingredients together with the cucumber and lemon slices, if using. Stir together. Taste. Add ice and serve. Top tip ~ make a large block of ice by pouring water into a plastic container (an ice-cream tub is perfect!), add lemon and cucumber slices and freeze. The large block will keep the punch cool without diluting it too much!
I’d love to hear about your favourite festive gin cocktails! Share?
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