Gin & Ginger Holiday Cranberry Cocktail

During the holiday season I love experimenting with different cocktails that have quintessential holiday flavors.  Cranberry is a classic holiday staple, pear always reminds me of a baked caramel pear dessert my mom makes (I promise one day I'll share the recipe), ginger is a warm winter flavor and gin, well, gin is always a good idea if you ask me!  So, if you want to up your hosting game and really impress your guests (or yourself) when you crack open your home bar next time - give this recipe a try!

holiday cranberry ginger cocktail
cranberry ginger holiday cocktail
gin cocktail

So, what do you need to make this tasty cocktail for yourself? Cranberries // Pear // Lime // Ginger Beer // Gin // Cranberry Simple Syrup* // Rosemary to garnish

*Simple Syrup could not be easier to make - to make it a bit more festive, I added cranberries just because. To make simple syrup bring equal parts sugar and water to a boil until the sugar dissolves. I added a few crushed cranberries (about a handful) with the sugar, then strained them out when I set aside the simple syrup to cool before using.  

holiday cocktail recipe

Start by muddling a few slices of pear with about 6 cranberries in each glass.  Then add 1 tsp of simple syrup and a generous squeeze of lime juice to the muddled fruit. 

Next add 1.5 oz of gin, and top the glass up with ginger beer.  Gently give the drink a stir and you're set! To add a festive touch, pop in a sprig of rosemary and a few cranberries as garnish, and a decorative stir stick or fun straw for added presentation points.

Variation: If ginger beer isn't your thing, swap it out for prosecco, you still get the bubbly goodness, and cut any ginger taste you might not like. Have any other variation suggestions? Let us know!

PS- Have you entered our amazing giveaways with Boden and Jilly's yet? Be sure to enter below, tomorrow's your last day!! Remember: Boden giveaway open to US residents only and Jilly's giveaway open to Canadian residents only. Good luck!! XO