Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (120 g) Fresh or Frozen Cranberries (for syrup)
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) Filtered Water (for syrup)
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) Granulated Sugar (for syrup)
  • 2 large sprigs Fresh Rosemary (for syrup)
  • 4 fl oz High-Quality Gin (London Dry preferred)
  • 1 1/2 fl oz Fresh Lime Juice (freshly squeezed)
  • 2 fl oz Cranberry-Rosemary Syrup (from preparation)
  • 4 dashes Angostura Bitters (optional)
  • Ice (Large cubes)
  • Soda Water or Premium Tonic (to top)
  • Fresh cranberries for garnish
  • Small sprig of fresh rosemary for garnish

Instructions:

  1. Phase I: Crafting the Cranberry-Rosemary Syrup. Place the cranberries, water, granulated sugar, and rosemary sprigs into a small saucepan.
  2. Simmer and Reduce: Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat to low and allow to simmer for 8–10 minutes, pressing down on the cranberries periodically with the back of a spoon to release their juice. The mixture should thicken slightly and the cranberries should burst.
  3. Steep: Remove the pan from the heat. Allow the mixture to sit and steep for an additional 10 minutes to intensify the rosemary flavour.
  4. Strain and Chill: Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean jar, pressing lightly on the solids to extract all liquid. Discard the solids and rosemary. Allow the syrup to cool completely in the refrigerator (at least 30 minutes).
  5. Phase II: Assembling the Cocktail. Prepare the Glassware: Fill your serving glasses (highballs or rocks glasses) with fresh ice and set aside.
  6. Measure and Combine: In a cocktail shaker, combine the Gin (2 oz per serving), the chilled Cranberry-Rosemary Syrup (1 oz per serving), fresh Lime Juice (3/4 oz per serving), and the Angostura Bitters (2 dashes per serving).
  7. Add Ice and Shake: Fill the shaker 2/3 full with high-quality ice. Secure the lid tightly and shake vigorously for about 15–20 seconds until the shaker is icy cold.
  8. Strain and Finish: Double-strain the mixture into the prepared, ice-filled serving glasses.
  9. Top Up and Garnish: Top each glass with a splash (about 1–2 fl oz) of chilled soda water or tonic for effervescence. Garnish immediately with the skewered fresh cranberries and the small sprig of rosemary.