Who still has fresh cranberries left over from Thanksgiving? This girl! I figured it would be amazing to use up the cranberries in something that could extend into the new year so I turned it into a simple syrup. Chris is our resident mixologist and I can’t take any credit for this recipe at all. He paired the tart syrup with a dry London gin for a variation on a gin gimlet, one of my favorite cocktails. I’ll definitely be ringing in the New Year with this Cranberry Gimlet!
Simple Syrup
Simple syrup is a bartender’s best tool. It’s a 1:1 ratio of water to sugar where the sugar is dissolved in hot water and then cooled down. So many cocktails use simple syrup to sweeten the drink. Simple syrup is used in lieu of sugar as sugar doesn’t dissolve in cold liquid and especially in alcohol.
Sometimes the simple syrup is infused with fruits and teas to add another flavor profile to cocktails.
I hope everyone has a wonderful NYE!
Cranberry Gimlet Cocktail
Ingredients
- Cranberry Simple Syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- Cocktail
- 2 fresh cranberries berries
- 1/2 sprig fresh thyme (optional)
- 1 1/2 ounce dry gin
- 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1 ounce cranberry simple syrup
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- Soda water
Directions
- Step 1 In a small sauce pan, combine water, sugar, and cranberries over medium heat. Cook until sugar is dissolved and cranberries have popped.
- Step 2 Strain and cool mixture before use in cocktail.
- Step 3 In a shaker, muddle 2 fresh cranberry berries and thyme (optional).
- Step 4 Add gin, lemon juice, syrup, and orange bitters over ice. Shake for about 10 seconds.
- Step 5 Pour through strainer into an old fashion glass.
- Step 6 Top with soda water.
- Step 7 Garnish with thyme, sugar coated cranberries, and lemon twist.
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