Christmas Gin Cocktail

Gin is the perfect base for a Christmas cocktail with its notes of citrus, spice, and juniper. This Christmas gin cocktail pairs it with ruby red cranberry juice for a festive look and holiday taste!

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year for cocktails. They’re pretty, they warm you up, and they give you something flavorful to sip on while you’re nibbling on all the snacks.

This Christmas gin cocktail is easy to make with ingredients you might already have on hand.

Technically this is a gin fizz thanks to the addition of club soda. Be sure to read on below for how to make it non-fizzy or different swaps you can use in place of the club soda.

The best Christmas gin cocktail

I think this is the best holiday gin drink for a few reasons. For starters, it is naturally sweetened. While I love all things sweet, drinking sugar doesn’t leave me feeling my best.

That’s why I love using honey simple syrup to sweeten up my cocktails. It gives it a fun floral note without the terrible sugar crash.

We’re also using 100% real cranberry juice, which is unsweetened and full of cranberry flavor. A lot of cranberry juice blends use other fruits to sweeten it, but this one simplifies the flavors.

Finally, I just think it’s so pretty! You could do a sparkly rim like I did for my Sparkling Greyhound Cocktail, or add a sprig of rosemary to take it up another notch.

Top view of a Christmas gin cocktail in a round glass surrounded by ice cubes and frozen cranberries.

Ingredients

Gin
Cranberry juice
Orange juice
Lime juice
Honey simple syrup
Club soda
Frozen cranberries, optional

How to make

Add gin, cranberry juice, orange juice, lime juice, and honey syrup to a lowball glass and stir to combine.
Add ice and frozen cranberries and top with club soda if desired.

Christmas gin cocktail in a round glass without ice.

Top tips

The best gin for cocktails

I chose Tanqueray gin for this cocktail because of the pretty green and red bottle (Christmas!). It’s also a high quality spirit with great flavor.

You can choose any gin that’s available to you, but Tanqueray, Sapphire, or Beefeaters would be my top choices.

How to make honey simple syrup

I have a whole post about how to make honey simple syrup, but it’s super easy and ready in just 2 minutes!

All you need is ¼ cup raw honey and 2 tablespoons of hot water. Add them to a jar, shake, and your syrup is ready to go.

a small bowl of honey simple syrup with a pink napkin, flowers, and a honey wand

Frozen cranberries for cocktails

I froze my cranberries for garnishing this cocktail as a way to keep it chilled without watering it down. You can also add ice if you like, and skip the frozen cranberries if needed.

Tips for customizing

Garnish with a rosemary sprig
Swap the honey simple syrup for regular simple syrup, maple syrup, or rosemary simple syrup
Try lemon lime soda or ginger ale in place of the club soda
Make it a mocktail by leaving out the gin and doubling everything else
Try using a Christmas Gin like this one from La Crosse Distilling Co.

Two Christmas gin cocktails in a round glasses surrounded by ice cubes, ornaments, and frozen cranberries.

FAQ

How do I make this cocktail sweeter?

If you prefer sweeter cocktails, you can double the amount of honey simple syrup used, choose a sweetened cranberry juice, or use a regular sugar simple syrup.

Is this a healthy cocktail?

I love making cocktails with honey syrup and limited artificial sweeteners and colors. Because of the basic ingredients needed for this cocktail, I would consider it a healthy option for the holidays.

What is club soda?

Club soda is a type of carbonated water, meaning it has had carbon dioxide gas injected into it. It also generally has minerals added to improve the taste.

Club soda is alcohol free, and an easy way to add bubbles to your drink of choice.

More cocktail recipes

If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!

Recipe