Cranberry Ginger Cocktail
Ingredients
3 ounces gin
2 ounces 100% cranberry juice
1 ounce ginger simple syrup
1 ounces orange juice, freshly squeezed
2 ounces club soda, ginger ale, or ginger beer
Sugared Cranberries, optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the ginger syrup if you don’t already have it on hand (see notes below or the other post for more information).
- Fill a large jar or cocktail shaker about halfway full with ice. Add gin, cranberry juice, ginger simple syrup, and orange juice. If shaking the cocktail, do so now, then pour and add the club soda, ginger ale, or ginger beer. Otherwise, add one of those now, then stir the drink until combined.
- Strain into either a lowball glass filled with ice or a coupe-style glass, served straight up (without ice).
- Garnish with sugar coated cranberries, a sprig of rosemary, or orange zest as desired.
Notes
- Ginger Simple Syrup: Bring 1 cup water, 1 cup granulated sugar, and 2-3 inches of ginger root, sliced, to a boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit for 10 minutes. Strain and cool before using in a cocktail.
Christmas Punch
Ingredients
1 orange sliced
1 cup cranberries
½ cup pomegranate seeds
2 cups cranberry juice Ocean Spray Pure Unsweetened 100% juice recommended
2 cups orange juice Simply, Natalie’s, or Uncle Matt’s brands recommend
1 cup pomegranate juice POM brand recommended
2 cups lemon-lime soda Starry, Sprite, or 7Up recommended
1 cup white rum optional
ice
fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish
Instructions
- Add the slices from 1 orange, 1 cup cranberries, and ½ cup pomegranate seeds to a large pitcher or punch bowl. If using a really gallon-sized bowl or dispenser, you can double the recipe.
- Pour in 2 cups cranberry juice, 2 cups orange juice, 1 cup pomegranate juice, and 2 cups lemon-lime soda. You can also add 1 cup white rum or alcohol of choice if including.
- Serve in glasses over ice and garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs.
Mistletoe Kiss
Ingredients FOR THE ROSEMARY SIMPLE SYRUP*:
½ cup water
½ cup granulated sugar
1 sprig rosemary FOR A SMALL BATCH:
6 ounces vodka
1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 ounces rosemary simple syrup
Club soda
Handful of fresh cranberries (whole frozen berries are ok)
2 sprigs of rosemaryFOR A LARGE BATCH:
30 ounces vodka (3 ¾ cups or approx 1 liter from which you’ll have a couple ounces leftover)
5 ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice
10 ounces (1 ¼ cups) rosemary simple syrup (triple the recipe above)
1 liter club soda
½ bag of fresh cranberries (whole frozen berries are ok)
10 sprigs of rosemary
Instructions
To make the rosemary simple syrup: Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan set over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil while stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Allow the mixture to boil for 5 minutes then remove from the heat and drop in the sprig of rosemary. Allow the rosemary to steep for about 15 minutes and then discard the rosemary. Pour the simple syrup into a glass jar or bottle, cool to room temperature, cover, and refrigerate.
To make a small batch: Pour vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup into a drink shaker filled with ice. Cover and shake well to blend. Divide drink mix between 2 rocks glasses filled with ice, straining the ice from the shaker as you pour. You’ll only want to fill the glasses ¾-full. Top with club soda and a few cranberries for garnish. Add a sprig of rosemary to use as a stirrer.
To make a large batch: Pour vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup into a pitcher filled with ice and stir well to combine.
When ready to serve, pour the drink mix into an ice-filled rocks glass to ¾-full. Top each drink with club soda and a few cranberries for garnish. Add a sprig of rosemary to each drink as they are served to use as a stirrer.
If you make the large batch before your guests arrive, be sure to keep the pitcher in the fridge to ensure the drinks are icy cold when they arrive.
Vanilla Pear Punch
Ingredients
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
24 ounces (3 cups) pear juice or pear nectar
12 ounces (1 ½ cups) reposado tequila
8 ounces (1 cup) club soda or sparkling water
4 ounces (½ cup) lemon juice
1 to 2 tablespoons honey simple syrup*
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Suggested garnishes: Lemon rounds, short fresh rosemary sprigs, ½ cup fresh cranberries
Ice cubes, for serving
Instructions
- Place the cinnamon into your pitcher or punch bowl. Add a splash of the pear juice and whisk until the cinnamon is mixed into the liquid.
- Pour in the remaining pear juice, tequila, club soda, lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of the honey simple syrup, and the vanilla extract. Gently stir to combine. Taste, and add the remaining simple syrup if you desire a sweeter or more mellow drink.
- Garnish as desired. Pour individual servings into glasses filled with ice. Cheers.