Winter Gin Cocktails for Holiday Gatherings (or Solo Shindigs)

Often thought of as a spirit that's best for spring or summer, gin is equally great year-round for winter sipping as well. Its natural juniper and pine flavors make gin cocktails a great pairing for winter, blending naturally with decorations and parties. So when you're debating between bourbon or gin, consider making up some winter gin cocktails.

Winter Warming Negroni

An upgrade from the classic negroni, its warming effects are perfect for winter.

Ingredients

• 1¼ ounces gin
• 1¼ ounces Campari
• 1¼ ounces sweet vermouth
• ¾ ounce allspice dram
• Ice and king cube
• Lemon peel for garnish

Instructions

1. In a mixing glass, add ice, gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, and allspice dram.
2. Stir rapidly to mix.
3. Strain into rocks glass over king cube.
4. Garnish with lemon peel.

Golden Purl

Bourbon isn't the only spirit that works well warm. This classic cocktail uses warmed apple and gin.

Ingredients

• 4 ounces apple cider
• ¾ ounce maple syrup
• 1¾ ounces gin
• 2 dashes orange bitters
• Orange wheel for garnish

Instructions

1. Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
2. In a small saucepan over low heat, warm apple cider and maple syrup.
3. Stir well to mix until the maple syrup has dissolved.
4. After the mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
5. Carefully pour apple cider mixture into mug.
6. Add gin and orange bitters.
7. Stir carefully to mix.
8. Garnish with orange wheel.

Rosemary Clover Club

Herbs are a great way to add some winter and tasty flavor to cocktails, rosemary especially so.

Ingredients

• 1½ ounces gin
• ¼ ounce grenadine
• ¼ ounce lemon juice
• 1 egg white
• ½ ounce rosemary simple syrup
• Ice
• Rosemary sprig for garnish

Instructions

1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
2. In a cocktail shaker, add gin, grenadine, lemon juice, rosemary simple syrup, and egg white.
3. Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
4. Add ice to shaker.
5. Shake to chill.
6. Strain into chilled glass.
7. Garnish with rosemary sprig.

Martinez

A close relative of the martini and Manhattan, this cocktail warms you from the inside out.

Ingredients

• 1½ ounces gin
• 1½ ounces sweet vermouth
• ¼ ounce maraschino liqueur
• 3 dashes Angostura bitters
• Ice
• Orange peel for garnish

Instructions

1. Chill a coupe or Nick and Nora glass.
2. In a mixing glass, add ice, gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and bitters.
3. Stir rapidly to chill.
4. Strain into chilled glass.
5. Garnish with orange peel.

Winter Berry Bramble

The gorgeous layering of this cocktail uses winter berry flavors and gin for a great sip.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces gin
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ¾ ounce orange liqueur
• ¾ ounce raspberry liqueur
• Crushed ice
• Blackberry and lemon slice for garnish

Instructions

1. In a rocks glass, add crushed ice, gin, lemon juice, and orange liqueur.
2. Slowly pour in raspberry liqueur, allowing it to sink.
3. Garnish with blackberry and lemon slice.

Cranberry Negroni

The tart flavor and deep color of the cranberry juice give this negroni a refreshing but still familiar and tart flavor to this cocktail.

Ingredients

• 1½ ounces gin
• ¾ ounce tart cranberry juice
• ¾ ounce sweet vermouth
• ¾ ounce Campari
• Ice
• Lemon peel for garnish

Instructions

1. In a mixing glass, add ice, gin, tart cranberry juice, sweet vermouth, and Campari.
2. Stir rapidly to chill.
3. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice or king cube.
4. Garnish with lemon peel.

Mulled Juniper Wine

Bourbon and vodka aren't the only ones that are great with mulled wine. Gin's natural juniper flavors give it a wintery upgrade. This recipe will make around five servings, depending on mug size.

Ingredients

• 750mL bottle dry red wine, Merlot, or Cabernet
• 10 whole cloves
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 3 star anise
• 1 orange, evenly sliced into wheels
• 2 ounce simple syrup
• 4 ounces gin
• Lemon wheel for garnish

Instructions

1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add wine, spices, orange slices, simple syrup, and gin.
2. Allow to just shy of simmer for a minimum of 15 minutes, but no more than 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Do not boil.
3. Strain out spices.
4. Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
5. After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
6. Carefully ladle mixture into mugs.
7. Garnish with lemon slice.

Harvest Apple 75

Apples are a great fall and winter flavor. The classic French 75 changes up the ingredients for a colder weather vibe.

Ingredients

• 1½ ounces gin
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ½ ounce simple syrup
• Sparkling cider to top off
• Lemon peel for garnish

Instructions

1. In a champagne flute, add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
2. Top off with sparkling cider.
3. Garnish with lemon peel.

Winter Gin Sour

Egg whites give sour-style cocktails a creamy, warm richness. Consider this a happy cross between a gimlet and a sour.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces gin
• ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ½ ounce orange liqueur
• ¼ ounce rosemary simple syrup
• 1 egg white
• Ice
• Rosemary sprig, orange peel, and bitters for garnish

Instructions

1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
2. In a cocktail shaker, add gin, lemon juice, orange liqueur, and rosemary simple syrup.
3. Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
4. Add ice to shaker.
5. Shake to chill.
6. Strain into chilled glass.
7. Garnish with rosemary sprig and orange peel, using drops of bitters to create design.

Apple Gin Old-Fashioned

A classic winter warmer bourbon cocktail gets a gin make-over.

Ingredients

• 3 ounces apple cider
• 2 ounces gin
• ¾ ounce rosemary simple syrup
• 2 dashes orange bitters
• 4 dashes aromatic bitters
• Ice
• Rosemary sprig, orange slice, and cinnamon stick for garnish

Instructions

In a cocktail shaker, add ice, apple cider, gin, rosemary simple syrup, and bitters.

1. Shake to chill.
2. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice or king cube.
3. Garnish with rosemary sprig, orange slice, and cinnamon stick.

Frosted Cranberry Gin Fizz

A fizzy cocktail is always appropriate for any winter celebration.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces gin
• ¾ ounce cranberry vodka
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ½ ounce orange liqueur
• Ice
• Club soda to top off
• Cranberries and rosemary sprig for garnish

Instructions

1. In a highball glass, add ice, gin, cranberry vodka, lemon juice, and orange liqueur.
2. Top off with club soda.
3. Garnish with cranberries and rosemary sprig.

Winter Sage Gin Martini

The herbal sage makes the classic gin martini a cozy sip, especially with some blankets or by a fire.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces gin
• ½ ounce sage simple syrup
• ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 egg white
• Ice
• Sage leaf for garnish

Instructions

1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
2. In a cocktail shaker, add gin, sage simple syrup, lemon juice, and egg white.
3. Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
4. Add ice to shaker.
5. Shake to chill.
6. Strain into chilled glass.
7. Garnish with sage leaf.

Winter and Gin

Gin is the ideal winter spirit--it's already packed with juniper flavor, reminiscent of pine trees with that delicate woodsy note. Winter gin cocktails are an excellent way to shake yourself out of a cocktail rut, so consider gin instead of bourbon the next time you want a cocktail as you watch the snowfall.