Cranberry Gin Cocktail

This punchy cranberry gin cocktail is made with gin, cranberry juice, fresh orange, lime, and a splash of Prosecco for fizz. Served with a sugar rim, this is the perfect holiday season cocktail!

Just like I rotate the fruits, vegetables, and recipes I’m craving as the seasons change, so also do I change the cocktails I like to order and make! Tis the season for cranberries. Last year for the holidays, I made a Christmas Cranberry Cocktail with bourbon served over a single big cube. This year, I’m feeling sparkly with this cranberry gin cocktail made with citrus and a sugar rim (And if you have lots of extra cranberry sauce, you can also try my cranberry smoothie!).

If you are a fan of the Gimlet, the Gin and Tonic, the Negroni (my favorite cocktail this year), you’ll love this version for the holidays. It’s punchy from the Prosecco fizz and not too sweet thanks to cranberry and lime juice. It reminds me of the punch my mom used to serve at her annual Christmas party.

I’m actually warming back up to gin after a horrible experience when I was in college. Now 20 years later, it’s appealing again! Note you can use a nonalcoholic gin here to make a mocktail, too. Ritual and Monday both make them. Or you can sub in another liquor like vodka. Just note the flavor will change slightly.

Popular Gin Brands:

1. Bombay Sapphire

Origin: England
Notable Features: With its iconic blue bottle and complex blend of ten botanicals, Bombay Sapphire is celebrated for its smoothness and versatility. This is the gin I’ve heard of the most prior to researching this post and the one I buy.

2. Hendrick’s Gin

Origin: Scotland
Notable Features: Hendrick’s is known for its unique infusion of cucumber and rose petals, giving it a distinctive, floral, and refreshing character. It’s a favorite for those who enjoy a more aromatic gin.

3. Tanqueray No. Ten

Origin: England
Notable Features: This premium version of Tanqueray is known for its citrus-forward profile, featuring fresh fruit and botanicals. It’s often hailed as one of the best gins for martinis due to its crisp and clean taste.

4. Monkey 47

Origin: Germany
Notable Features: Hailing from the Black Forest, Monkey 47 is crafted with 47 botanicals, giving it a complex and rich flavor profile. It’s a favorite among those who appreciate a more intricate and aromatic gin.

5. Beefeater

Origin: England
Notable Features: Beefeater is a classic London Dry gin that has been around since 1863. Known for its bold juniper flavor and well-balanced profile, it’s a staple for traditional gin cocktails and a solid choice for any gin lover.

Here’s my take on a cranberry gin cocktail recipe for you to make!

In addition to pure cranberry juice, the cocktail recipe calls for fresh squeezed citrus in the form of orange and lime. You can also sub in lemon juice instead of the lime. I also love giving a cocktail a bit of fizz which comes from Prosecco in this recipe. You can sub in soda water or flavored sparkling water if you’d like to make it NA. Add a little simple syrup to balance in the sweetness if you do.

At the grocery store, look for 100% Cranberry Juice. This is pure, unsweetened cranberry juice. And as you know, cranberries are very, very tart!! Pomegranate juice also works well.

I love the addition of a sugar rim for a super festive cocktail. Granulated sugar is the most common sugar you can use, but consider trying brown sugar or turbinado sugar, too.

For garnishes, I used rosemary and frozen cranberries (because they aren’t always available) but if you have fresh cranberries around the holidays – go for it! A lime or orange slice or sliver of orange peel works too.

Ingredients

4 ounces Bombay Sapphire
4 ounces pure cranberry juice
3 ounces prosecco
2 ounces fresh orange juice – (about one small orange)
1 ounce lime juice (about one lime)
3-6 frozen cranberries, for garnish
2 rosemary sprigs, for garnish
Granulated sugar for rim

Instructions

Step 1: Make Sugar Rims

Pour sugar on a plate. Use an extra lime or orange slice to moisten the rim of your glass and turn glass over to dip in raw sugar.

Step 2: Shake Cocktail

Add gin, cranberry juice, orange juice, lime juice, and a handful of ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake well.

Step 3: Stir in Prosecco

Add Prosecco to shaker and lightly stir with a long spoon or cocktail stirrer.

Step 4: Pour into glasses

Pour slowly so the Prosecco doesn’t fizz too much.

Step 5: Add garnishes

Garnish with cranberries, a rosemary sprig, and/or an orange slice.