Cranberry And Orange Infused Gin Recipe For Christmas (2024)

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ByWendy Grahamupdated on

Let me show you how to make this delicious cranberry and orange-infused Christmas gin recipe. It’s perfect to give to others as a gift, or to keep all to yourself!

Seeing as it’s nearly Christmas, and I’ve been busy updating my big sustainable Christmas guide, I thought I would continue the festive theme and share my cranberry and orange-infused Christmas gin recipe.It has a fresh festive flavour without the sweetness of many drinks of the season.

Cranberry And Orange Infused Gin Recipe For Christmas (2)

You can prepare this now so that it is ready for Christmas. It would make such a lovely homemade and edible gift idea for any gin lover. Or you could just keep it for yourself – your call!

The very best bit is that the recipe has a skill level of precisely zero. If you can add some berries to some gin then you can make this Christmas gin recipe!Aka, my favourite kind of recipe!

Table Of Contents

  • Cranberry And Orange Infused Christmas Gin Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Equipment Required
    • Method
  • A Note On The Ingredients Used
  • A Note On The Method

Cranberry And Orange Infused Christmas Gin Recipe

Cranberry And Orange Infused Gin Recipe For Christmas (3)

Here is the full list of ingredients and the directions to make this tasty infused gin:

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of fresh or frozen cranberries (see notes below)
  • 500 ml gin
  • The peel of two oranges (ensuring as little pith is on the peel as possible, otherwise it can make the gin taste bitter)
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for later)

Equipment Required

  • Large sealed jar, sterilised (see my guide on how to sterilise glass jars)
  • A sieve
  • A piece of muslin
  • Measuring jug or bowl.
  • A pan
  • A funnel (optional)
  • A sterilised bottle. You can reuse an old gin bottle, just make sure the lid still secures firmly.

Method

  • Place the fresh or frozen cranberries and the peel of the oranges into your sterilised jar.
  • Pour over the gin, and seal the jar tightly.
  • Place the sealed jar in a cool dark place for at least 3 weeks, shaking every three or four days. The gin will take on a stronger cranberry and orange flavour the longer you leave the fruit in.So, if you prefer a stronger flavour then leave the fruit in for longer.
  • After at least three weeks, you can strain the gin off through a muslin-lined sieve into a measuring jug or bowl.
  • Put the gin to the side for a minute.
  • Add 1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water to a pan.Dissolve the sugar and water over a low heat.
  • Once dissolved, add a little bit of the sugary water at a time to the gin, tasting it as you go, until you have the desired sweetness.
  • Finally, mix well and decant into a sterilised bottle. Your cranberry and orange-infused Christmas gin is ready for drinking or gifting. Provided the gin has been properly strained, sealed well, and stored in a cool dark spot, then it should keep for one year.

A Note On The Ingredients Used

Cranberry And Orange Infused Gin Recipe For Christmas (4)

At this time of year, you can easily buy fresh cranberries in many supermarkets.If you can’t find fresh ones then I’ve found that frozen ones work just as well.

I’ve used frozen cranberries because I picked them up really cheap in January (like 50p a big bag cheap!).However, even now the frozen ones are relatively inexpensive.The good thing is there is no need to defrost frozen cranberries before using them.And in case you are worried, there really is no difference in flavour.

Gin-wise, I wouldn’t buy the cheapest gin in the shop.Buy a bottle that costs £2 or £3 more for this recipe, rather than the cheapest own-brand gin, and you’ll get a better-tasting Christmas gin. Don’t go wild and buy a really expensive gin though.You’ll lose the lovely subtle flavours of your fancier gin. It’s a fine balance. I opted for Gordon’s Gin if that helps, and it made for a lovely-tasting Cranberry and Orange gin.

A Note On The Method

Cranberry And Orange Infused Gin Recipe For Christmas (5)

I have taken advice from Sipsmiths (as they know a thing or two about gin) and utilised its sloe gin-making tips.Here Sipsmiths advises adding the sugar at the end of the infusion process rather than at the start.

It says “Contrary to popular belief, there is very little point in adding sugar at the outset.Saturating the spirit with sugar prevents it from extracting the natural fruit sugars – and other flavours – from the [fruit]“.

Having made infused gins in the past where I’ve added the sugar at the same time as the fruit, I have to say I completely agree with Sipsmiths.By adding the sugar at the end also means you can control the sweetness more accurately.

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Cranberry And Orange Infused Gin Recipe For Christmas (2024)

FAQs

What is a gin and cranberry called? ›

Now, it's called a Cranberry Gin Fizz for a reason, so that's precisely where the cranberry juice comes into play! Cranberry juice is known for its subtle sweetness and bright, tart notes. Not only does it give the co*cktail a refreshing sharpness, but it also brings out that gorgeous blush hue.

Is gin and cranberry juice good? ›

More commonly associated with vodka, cranberry juice also pairs beautifully with gin as an alternative for tonic water, particularly when you add a kick of zesty citrus and a fresh herbal perfume from the garnish.

Is gin a Christmas drink? ›

Gin is the perfect base for a Christmas co*cktail with its notes of citrus, spice, and juniper. This Christmas gin co*cktail 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 co*cktails.

Can I mix gin and orange juice? ›

Using a jigger, measure 50ml London Dry Gin and pour into a tall glass over ice cubes. Top up with 125ml orange juice.

What is a magical gin? ›

No, not Harry Potter style magic: when we talk about magic gins we're talking gins that either do something that well and truly wows, or we're talking about gins whose ingredients or distillation process are so darn off-the-charts unique that we had to put them in a magic gins category all of their own.

What juice is best with gin? ›

You can't go wrong with a juniper-forward London dry gin, which works with nearly any juice you can source, from lemon and lime to orange and grapefruit. Softer gins can work great, too, but depending on their botanical makeup, they may pair better with sweeter OJ or more sour grapefruit.

Is vodka or gin better with juice? ›

If you like herbaceous, floral notes then you'll probably enjoy gin more. If you want a neutral alcohol that will seamlessly blend into your mixer or co*cktail, then vodka is right up your alley. While they can be used in similar applications, each drink is wonderful in its own way.

What is Christmas gin? ›

CHRISTMAS GIN® is a festive twist on our signature Fieldnotes Organic Gin®, enriched with black currants infusion.

What is the most traditional Christmas drink? ›

Eggnog. Of all the holiday co*cktails you can mix up, few are as fitting as a glass of homemade eggnog. It's a luscious, creamy drink that many crave when December rolls around and it often brings back fond memories. Eggnog is not difficult to make from scratch and it's tastier than most store-bought options.

Is gin less fattening than vodka? ›

Vodka is the alcohol with the lowest calories, at around 100 calories per shot (that's a 50ml double-measure). Whisky is slightly more, at roughly 110 calories a shot. Gin and tequila are also 110 calories a shot.

Is gin less fattening than wine? ›

Single measure of gin (25ml) with diet mixer = 54 calories. Single measure of gin with mixer or fruit juice = 108 calories. Medium glass (175ml) wine = 159 calories. Small bottle (330ml) beer = 142 calories.

Why is it called a gin rickey? ›

The Rickey is a highball made from gin or bourbon, lime juice, and carbonated water. Little or no sugar is added to the rickey. It was created with bourbon in 1883 by bartender Jared Bangura in Danvers, Massachusetts, at Rand Circle, purportedly in collaboration with Democratic lobbyist Colonel Joe Rickey.

Is there a cranberry gin? ›

Capital K Presents Cranberry Gin 750mL – Capital K Distillery - Made by Manitoba.

What is a cute name for a vodka cranberry? ›

The Cape Codder is one of a series of drinks featuring vodka and cranberry juice and named for nautical or coastal themes. The Sea Breeze, for example, combines vodka, cranberry and grapefruit juice, while the Bay Breeze is vodka, cranberry and pineapple juice.

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