It’s the holiday season and the perfect time for some holiday gin cocktails perfect for any of your holiday parties.

We had a lot of fun creating some Christmas gin cocktails, but in all honestly, these are great for any time of year not just during the winter holidays.

Gin Cocktails

If you have been following Bubbly Side of Life, you know that gin is not my go to spirit.  To me, gin just tastes like a Christmas tree.  And when I found the Empress Elderflower Rosé, I knew that was the key to creating some new and festive gin cocktails.  

I know there are a lot of classic gin fans out there and I was certainly trying to create the perfect cocktail with it.  Just ask my neighbor.  She is definitely a classic gin lover and tasted many cocktails I try with it, but this new Empress Elderflower Rosé changed the game completely.  

If you are a classic gin lover, these cocktail recipes will be just as good, but if you can find the Empress Elderflower Rosé gin, you will love them even more!

Cocktail Supplies

You know we love our bar supplies over here for when we go into full on mixology mode.  And we conveniently have them all ready for you at the Bubbly Side of Life shop on Amazon or on our shop on LTK.  

Cocktail supplies to turn your own kitchen into a bar to create your own holiday gin cocktails.

But here’s the reality, you don’t have to have any fancy supplies to create the perfect drink.  There have been plenty of times that I want to mix up my favorite cocktail and I’m not at home, so I don’t have my favorite supplies and just about anything will do.  

  • If you don’t have a cocktail shaker a glass or a mixing glass will work just fine.  
  • If you want to be precise in your measurements and not eye ball it, all you need is a measuring cup or shot glass.
  • If you don’t have a muddler, you can use the handle of any utensil or a big spoon or spatula.  
  • You don’t need any fancy glassware, any champagne flute or rocks glass will do.
  • If you want to really impress your friends and keep your drinks cold (and not watered down) all you need is a chilled champagne coupe or chilled martini glass.

Now that you have any sort of cocktail making supply you might need, let’s get to it.  

Holiday Gin Cocktails

Our goal was to create 3 easy and different festive gin cocktail recipes that will be perfect for the holiday season, but also some you might enjoy all throughout the cold winter months.  

One of the first debates was whether a cranberry cocktail is more appropriate for Thanksgiving or for Christmas.  And the vote was split, so here you have the perfect cranberry flavor for this Christmas cocktail.  

Cranberry Crush

  • 1/4 c Cranberries
  • 1 1/2 oz Empress Elderflower Rosé Gin 
  • 1 oz Trader Joe’s Limeade
  • 3/4 oz Hipstirs Cranberry Pie Syrup
  • Top with Bubbly
  • Rosemary Sprig for garnish
  • Frozen Cranberries for garnish 
The perfect holiday gin cocktail for your next holiday party.

Directions:

  1. In a cocktail shaker add cranberries, gin, limeade and simple syrup.  
  2. Muddle well.
  3. Strain into your favorite champagne flute or rocks glass.
  4. Top with bubbly.
  5. Garnish with frozen cranberries and a sprig of rosemary.  

TIPS:

The sprig of rosemary truly makes this drink so fun and festive.  We love adding frozen cranberries to this cocktail to keep it chilled and not watered down.

The next Christmas gin cocktail creation involves our newest holiday obsession, pomegranate.  We have used everything from spiced pomegranate juice to sparkling and sparkling spiced.  It really add that holiday cheer to your cocktails.  

Bubbly Cheer

  • 1 1/2 oz Empress Elderflower Rosé Gin
  • 2 oz Pomegranate Juice
  • 1 oz Trader Joe’s Limeade
  • Bubbly to top
The perfect holiday gin cocktail with Empress Elderflower Rosé gin.

Directions:

  1. In a cocktail shaker with ice (or a glass), add gin, pomegranate juice and limeade.
  2. Shake well or stir.
  3. Pour into your favorite champagne flute.
  4. Top with bubbly.
  5. Garnish with pomegranate arils.

Last up for our holiday cocktails is this one that isn’t specific to the holidays at all.  This gin cocktail will be great all year long and is so simple to make.  In fact, this gin cocktail would be great at any bubbly brunch and will definitely appeal to the gin lovers.

Tinsel Twist

  • 1 1/2 oz Empress Elderflower Rosé Gin
  • 1 oz Liquid Alchemist Blood Orange Cocktail Syrup
  • 1 oz Trader Joe’s Limeade
  • Slice of Blood Orange for garnish 
This gin cocktail is perfect for any time of year and would make a great addition to a bubbly brunch Buffett.

Directions:

  1. In a cocktail shaker with ice or a glass, add gin, simple syrup and limeade.  
  2. Shake well.  
  3. Pour into your favorite champagne flute.  
  4. Top with bubbly.

If you can find a blood orange, it makes the prettiest garnish. You can add orange slices or a simple orange twist.  

Trader Joe’s Limeade TIP:  

I discovered Trader Joe’s limeade months ago and if I have it on hand, I will always use it in place of lime juice or lemon juice because it is a combination of lemon and lime juice.  It also has some sugar so if I were ever going to add a plain simple syrup, I wouldn’t have to with Trader Joe’s Limeade.

Holiday Drinks

There’s no easier way to get into the holiday spirit than with delicious festive drinks.  We love putting a fun holiday twist on a classic cocktail and, of course, the easiest way to do that is with bubbly.  

If you haven’t seen our other winter cocktails that will pair with any Christmas dinner or your next holiday party, go check them out now.  You can find them on the blog and, of course, over on Bubbly Side of Life on Instagram.  

We are curious, if your opinion, what is the perfect holiday drink?  Is it gin-based cocktails or vodka-based cocktails?