This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Celebrate the holiday season with a Christmas Gin recipe that’s equal parts festive and refreshing! This easy-to-make cocktail combines the tartness of cranberry juice, the brightness of fresh citrus, and a hint of warmth from cinnamon sugar and nutmeg. Topped off with a splash of soda water and garnished with rosemary and orange, this drink is perfect for adding a little holiday cheer to your next gathering. Whether you’re hosting a Christmas dinner or just looking for a way to toast the winter months, this is a great choice for your festive celebrations.

Why You’ll Love this Christmas Gin Recipe!

This easy gin cocktail recipe is all about simplicity and flavor. With just a few ingredients and a cocktail shaker, you can create a drink that looks as good as it tastes. The fresh cranberries and rosemary sprigs make for a gorgeous festive finish, while the combination of gin, citrus, and cranberry gives the drink a perfectly balanced flavor. It’s a great idea for any holiday party, and since it’s customizable, you can adjust the sweetness or strength to suit your taste. Plus, the frozen cranberries double as ice cubes—how fun is that?

Assorted ingredients arranged on a marble surface, including citrus slices, cranberries, liquid in bowls, and spices, with rosemary as garnish.

Ingredients Needed for Christmas Gin

This recipe uses simple ingredients to create a festive holiday cocktail:

Gin: use your favorite dry gin for the perfect base.
Cranberry juice: for that signature holiday color.
Fresh orange juice: adding natural sweetness.
Lime juice: to brighten the drink.
Simple syrup: for a touch of sweetness. I have an easy simple syrup recipe that is perfect to use.
Ground nutmeg: for a hint of spice. (optional)
Club soda: to top off the drink with a little fizz.
Cinnamon sugar: for a sweet, festive rim.
Fresh cranberries: for garnish and as ice cubes.
Fresh rosemary sprig and orange slices: for garnish.

Equipment Needed

cocktail shaker
4 rock glasses or any short glass

Christmas Gin Variations

Want to mix things up? Here are a few fun ideas for your holiday parties:

Substitute pomegranate juice for cranberry juice for a slightly tangier drink.
Swap simple syrup with maple syrup or agave for a cozy touch.
Add a splash of ginger ale or ginger beer for extra warmth.
Use sloe gin for a deeper, richer flavor profile.
Rim the glass with brown sugar instead of cinnamon sugar.
For a non-alcoholic version, replace the gin with sparkling water or a mix of cranberry and apple juice.

A glass of red beverage with ice and cranberries is being poured, the rim is coated with a sugar mix.

How to Make a Christmas Gin

For full recipe details, including ingredient measurements, see the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here are my step by step directions to craft this festive holiday gin:

1. Prep Cocktail Glasses

Rim two short cocktail glasses (like a rocks glass) with cinnamon sugar and set aside.

A shallow bowl filled with a light brown powder sits on a marble surface. To the side are sliced citrus fruits and sprigs of rosemary.

A hand dips a glass rim into a dish of sugar. Slices of orange, lime, and a sprig of rosemary are on a plate in the background.

2. Add Ingredients to Cocktail Shaker

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Add gin, cranberry juice, orange juice, lime juice, ground nutmeg, and simple syrup and shake vigorously.

Hands pouring ice cubes from a gold measuring cup into a stainless steel shaker, with sliced limes and an orange in the background on a marble surface.

A person pours clear liquid into a stainless steel cocktail shaker. Sliced citrus fruits are visible in the background.

3. Add Ice + Cranberries to Glass

Add a few ice cubes to each glass, along with 10 fresh cranberries. Pour drink into each glass. Add a splash of club soda if needed to fill each glass.

Pro Tip: Freeze fresh cranberries ahead of time to use as decorative ice cubes.

A hand holding a stainless steel cocktail shaker over a marble surface, with sliced lemons and oranges, cranberries, and rosemary in the background.

Hand dropping cranberries into crystal glasses with sugared rims on a white tray.

4. Garnish + Serve!

Garnish with fresh rosemary (if desired) and an orange slice, and serve cold. Cheers!

Two glasses of red punch garnished with cranberries, a slice of dried orange, and rosemary, on a white tray.

Storage Directions

If you have leftover mixed drink (without soda), keep it in a glass bottle in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

To Make Ahead: mix the gin, juices, and simple syrup ahead of time and store in a sealed jar in the fridge. Add soda and garnishes just before serving.

To Freeze: The drink itself doesn’t freeze well, but you can prep the cranberries and keep them in a freezer bag.

Two glasses of red cocktail garnished with cranberries, dried orange slices, and rosemary, on a white tray.

More Christmas Cocktail Recipes to Make for the Holidays

This Christmas gin recipe is everything you need to bring a little sparkle to your holiday season. It’s festive, flavorful, and sure to be a hit with gin lovers and cocktail enthusiasts alike. Cheers to a Merry Christmas and a drink that’s as fun to make as it is to sip! The printable recipe card is below.

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.

Christmas Gin Recipe

Why You’ll Love this Christmas Gin Recipe!