Step into the holiday season with these festive cocktails that are guaranteed to add a delicious gin twist to your seasonal celebrations.
You’ve planned a feast that features all the trimmings, and now it’s time to create a cocktail menu that’s the perfect accompaniment. From wrapping presents and writing greetings cards to watching feel-good films, there’s a festive cocktail that’s perfect for every occasion. Sprinkle your home with a little mixology magic this holiday season with our simple festive gin cocktails.
If you’re looking to create a festive gin syrup, our Co-Founder and Master Distiller, Jared Brown, has crafted a recipe just for our sippers. For the basics on crafting homemade gin syrups at home, read our post here. If you want to make enough tea syrup for holiday drinks, try a Christmas blend: 3-4 tea bags should be enough to flavor 500ml water and an equal measure of sugar. Heat the sugar and water in a saucepan over a low heat. Once the sugar is dissolved, take it off the heat. Add the tea bags and let it rest for about 5 minutes. Taste for strength and adjust if you like. Mulling spices also make a wonderful syrup for holiday cocktails. you can even add it to wine in the microwave for instant mulled wine (which is even better with a measure of gin). Happy sipping, Jared.
GO CLASSIC THIS CHRISTMAS
If you are rushed off your feet roasting potatoes, stuffing the turkey and stirring gravy, then you’ll need a festive cocktail that’s satisfyingly simple to craft. Thankfully, a Classic Gin & Tonic not only tastes delicious, but it won’t distract you from Christmas dinner duties. Fill a highball glass with ice and pour in 1 part Sipsmith® London Dry Gin. Top with 3 parts chilled tonic water and garnish with a wedge of fresh lime or lime twist.
To give your G&T a sweet twist, craft a Winter G&T by combining 1/2 part London Dry Gin and 1/2 part Sipsmith Sloe Gin. Pour over 3 parts of tonic water and use a stirrer to gently combine the ingredients. Prepare for a sip that’s bursting with berries.
FESTIVE COCKTAILS WITH FIZZ
For a zesty take on the brilliantly bubbly French 75, the Lemon Drizzle 75 can be mixed in seconds. Refreshing and enlivening, this sippable citrus cocktail is ideal for Thanksgiving mixers, Christmas Eve brunches and New Year’s Day lunches.
Combine 1 3/4 parts Sipsmith Lemon Drizzle Gin, 1 part freshly squeezed lemon juice and 1/4 part simple syrup in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake to combine and then strain into a flute or coupe. Top up with chilled Champagne or prosecco and garnish with a lemon twist.
SEASONAL SHORTS
Centuries-old festive traditions are best enjoyed alongside a timeless cocktail. That’s why we enjoy sipping a Martini while decorating the tree and making mince pies. To craft yours, try Master Distiller Jared Brown’s cocktail recipe, which sees Sipsmith London Dry Gin and dry vermouth stirred over ice and strained into a chilled Martini glass. But remember, the perfect Martini should be tailored to your individual taste – so don’t be afraid to experiment.
And while we’ve all left out a glass of sherry for Santa, we think a Zesty Orange Espresso Martini is a much better way to brighten up his evening. Pour 2 parts Sipsmith Zesty Orange Gin, 2 parts espresso and 1 part Kahlua into a cocktail shaker that’s filled with ice and shake vigorously to combine. Then strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with an orange twist. Made with fresh orange peel, this zesty gin is given an extra energy-boosting dimension with the addition of coffee.
Once you’ve crafted a few festive cocktails, don’t forget to tag us @sipsmith so we can see your holiday creations on social media. Looking for more ginspiration? Click below to explore.