For those of us that live in Kansas City, the holiday season officially begins with the lighting of the city’s beloved Country Club Plaza. The Plaza, as locals refer to it, is a restaurant, shopping, and entertainment district built with Spanish-style architecture. The lighting ceremony has been a Thanksgiving night tradition for Kansas Citians since 1930. Our own little Times Square ball drop. To take in the lights, take a break, and just spend some time together, Heath and I recently had drinks at Seasons 52 on the Plaza. They always have the best seasonally fresh cocktails, and this time neither the Plaza lights nor my drink disappointed.
That night I had a gin-based cocktail made with white cranberry juice and candied sage. White cranberry juice is less tart than the red variety and blends oh-so-nicely with the subtle addition of sage. I’ve muddled some un-candied sage in this version so the flavor shines through.
The garnish of candied sage adds a sparkle to this drink, no doubt my favorite part. No time to make candied sage, you say? Understood. You can candy the sage up to 3 days before using, just store the leaves flat on a baking sheet in the fridge.
So cheers, friends! The weekend is near. I hope it’s a good one!
Cranberry Sage Cocktail
Ingredients
For cocktail
- 4 ounces gin
- 8 ounces white cranberry juice
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 fresh sage leaves
- 1/4 cup fresh cranberries divided
For candied sage
- 1 cup pure cane sugar divided
- 1/4 cup water
- 8-10 fresh sage leaves
Instructions
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To make candied sage, bring water and 1/2 cup sugar to a boil, stirring until dissolved. Reduce heat and simmer for two minutes. Remove from heat.
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Place remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a bowl. With a pastry brush, brush fresh sage leaves with sugar syrup and then sprinkle to coat sugar on leaves. Place leaves on an oiled wire rack to dry and harden (about 2 hours).
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When ready to make cocktail, in two glasses, fill half with ice cubes. Divide cranberries and add to glass.
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In a cocktail shaker, place the two sage leaves. Muddle. Fill half with ice cubes, add gin, white cranberry juice, and lime juice. Shake!
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Pour mixture between both glasses and garnish with candied sage.
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Cheers!
Recipe Notes
Inspired by Seasons 52 Cranberry & Sage.
Candied sage recipe from here.
*Prep time is due to candied sage preparation.
Katie says
I miss cocktails. Looks delish. Merry Christmas.
Tessa says
Thanks, lady. Just think, when you can have a cocktail again, there will be something awesome to celebrate! Merry Christmas. xo
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
This is just THE perfect cocktail for Christmas time!
Tessa says
Thanks, Thalia! Happy holidays to you!
Sarah @ SnixyKitchen says
CANDIED SAGE?! My mind is blown. I need to make that asap. I bet sage tastes so good a muddled up in a cocktail.
Tessa says
You do! I hadn’t had sage in a cocktail until now – feel like I’ve been missing out!
jaime says
!! ah! yum. i love the idea of candied sage and i like your addition of muddled sage to bring out the herbaceous flavor. i’ve never made cocktails with white cranberry juice. sounds like it’d go perfect with gin. love this festive cocktail tessa! hope you have a wonderful wonderful christmas.
Tessa says
Thanks so much, Jaime! Totally herbaceous. The white cranberry juice makes it real easy to drink. Merry, merry Christmas to you! :)
Christina @ Bake with Christina says
Candied sage just sounds so cool! I totally gotta try that, and this awesome looking drink! :) Pinned!
Tessa says
Thanks, Christina! I probably had too much fun making the candied sage. :) Hope you have a happy holiday season!
Lynn | The Road to Honey says
Looks divine! I am going to have to add this to my cocktail lineup.
Tessa says
Thank you, Lynn! I hope you enjoy it!
St. George Spirits says
Thank you so much for using our malty, spicy St. George Dry Rye Gin in this lovely creation! We also think this cocktail would be tasty with our foresty Terroir Gin (which has sage in it and is delicious in combination with berries of any kind). We’ll have to try both ways!
Tessa says
I’m looking forward to trying it with Terroir as well!
Charlene Flynn says
Cranberry sage and gin cocktail is the. Most refreshing drink I have ever had. That is even more astounding because I had it in it’s non-alcoholic version. Try this one,,,
Tessa says
Thank you!!
Bobby says
Enjoyed this at Seasons 52 on The Plaza last Thanksgiving then watched the lighting. Best Gin cocktail I’ve ever had and a Great way to start the holidays.