This refreshing, seasonal, holiday cranberry gin cocktail is easy to make for your next gathering or party. Candied sage adds a festive flair and can be made a few days ahead.
Cranberry and gin pair extra nicely together.
While vodka and cranberry may be an old go-to, this gin cranberry cocktail with sage takes your holiday cocktail to the next level.
Inspired by a drink at Seasons 52, white cranberry juice allows the sparkly candied sage to glitter fully in the glass.
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.
Need more delicious cocktail combinations? Cinnamon and rosemary combine and are perfect for fall and winter. My rhubarb bourbon sour is great for springtime as well as this mint gimlet!
Love this recipe? Please consider leaving a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating on the recipe card below and let me know what you think in the comments!
📖 Recipe
Cranberry Sage Cocktail
Ingredients
For cocktail
- 4 ounces gin
- 8 ounces white cranberry juice
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 fresh sage leaves
- ¼ cup fresh cranberries divided
For candied sage
- 1 cup pure cane sugar divided
- ¼ cup water
- 8-10 fresh sage leaves
Instructions
- To make candied sage, bring water and ½ cup sugar to a boil, stirring until dissolved. Reduce heat and simmer for two minutes. Remove from heat.
- Place remaining ½ 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).
- When ready to make cocktail, in two glasses, fill half with ice cubes. Divide cranberries and add to glass.
- In a cocktail shaker, place the two sage leaves. Muddle. Fill half with ice cubes, add gin, white cranberry juice, and lime juice. Shake!
- Pour mixture between both glasses and garnish with candied sage.
- Cheers!
Notes
Nutrition
Charlene Flynn
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
Thank you!!
Bobby
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.
St. George Spirits
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
I'm looking forward to trying it with Terroir as well!
Lynn | The Road to Honey
Looks divine! I am going to have to add this to my cocktail lineup.
Tessa
Thank you, Lynn! I hope you enjoy it!
Christina @ Bake with Christina
Candied sage just sounds so cool! I totally gotta try that, and this awesome looking drink! :) Pinned!
Tessa
Thanks, Christina! I probably had too much fun making the candied sage. :) Hope you have a happy holiday season!
jaime
!! 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
Thanks so much, Jaime! Totally herbaceous. The white cranberry juice makes it real easy to drink. Merry, merry Christmas to you! :)
Sarah @ SnixyKitchen
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
You do! I hadn't had sage in a cocktail until now - feel like I've been missing out!
Thalia @ butter and brioche
This is just THE perfect cocktail for Christmas time!
Tessa
Thanks, Thalia! Happy holidays to you!
Katie
I miss cocktails. Looks delish. Merry Christmas.
Tessa
Thanks, lady. Just think, when you can have a cocktail again, there will be something awesome to celebrate! Merry Christmas. xo