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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.
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
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
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
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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Berries like strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry add a touch of sweetness and a pop of colour to gin drinks. These fruits can be muddled or pureed and added to a gin co*cktail for a fruity twist. Try a strawberry gin fizz or a raspberry gin martini.
Cranberry Gin Tonic is a really easy to make drink, yet it looks and tastes so special. If you are a gin (and tonic) lover, you'll love the cranberry and lime twist here. It's aromatic, zesty, citrusy, a little tart, and oh-so-delicious.
In a co*cktail shaker, combine the gin, simple syrup, lemon juice, and cranberry sauce. Shake with ice for about ten seconds, then strain into a tall glass with ice. Stir in tonic water and garnish with a lemon wheel.
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.
Simply mix together cranberry juice, our Christmas flavoured Gin, lime juice, and soda water.Finish by garnishing with a slice of lime. Champagne co*cktail – A real showstopper of a co*cktail. Mix together our Christmas Gin, bitters, and finally top with champagne.
Plenty of fruit flavors work with gin — citrus, of course, brings out the acidic undertones while blackberries round out the sweetness of licorice and anise — but few combinations are better matched than gin and elderberries.
It also means that you can infuse a batch yourself easily (and legally) in your kitchen. Juniper berries (which you can find in many supermarkets) are essential, as their sweet and piney taste defines gin. Beyond that, the options, from citrus peels and cucumber to black pepper and ginger root, are pretty much endless.
Make it in advance and leave to mature for around two to three months to get the most from these fabulous fruits. It will only improve over time so consider making one this year to drink the next, or give away as a gift. Once you've made your infusion try our easy sloe gin co*cktail recipes.
This easy drink contains a mixture of tart cranberry juice, orange juice, 7UP, and vodka. However, it is equally enjoyable as a mocktail without the addition of vodka, if you wish to avoid alcohol.
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