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    Home » Recipes » Holiday Recipes

    Empress Gin and Tonic with Cranberry & Pomegranate Juice

    Published: Dec 12, 2022 · Modified: Oct 19, 2023 by Emily Laurae · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Empress gin and tonic.
    Empress gin and tonic.
    Empress gin and tonic.

    Looking for a stunning holiday drink to enjoy throughout these winter months that takes less than 5 minutes to make? It may be the perfect time for you to try this elegant gin and tonic made with purple gin from Empress. This layered Empress Gin and Tonic is the perfect Christmas cocktail to enjoy with your friends and family this holiday season!!

    Empress gin and tonic in glasses with cranberry and pomegranate garnish.
    Jump to:
    • ⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe 
    • 🍴Ingredients 
    • 📖 Step by Step Instructions
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips
    • 💭 Recipe FAQs
    • More Cocktail Recipes 
    • Empress Gin and Tonic with Pomegranate and Cranberry Juice
    • 💬 Comments

    ⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe 

    In the realm of classic gin cocktails, the timeless Gin & Tonic holds a special place. Some of my favorite winter cocktails are the my Christmas spritzer and Cranberry Gin and Tonic to enjoy at home. But this Christmas, I'm introducing a twist that brings a burst of unique flavor - the Frosted Cranberry Empress Gin Cocktail you can make at holiday parties or with your loved ones.

    By infusing the vibrant hues of butterfly pea flower and the tang of fresh cranberry, we've elevated the simple ingredients of the traditional G&T. The best part? This concoction isn't just about aesthetics; it promises a taste that's as festive as it looks. Cheers to a reimagined, merry Christmas classic! 

    Enjoy this cocktail with a slice of chocolate ganache tart, eggnog spice cake or a piece of luxurious honey vanilla bean caramel!

    🍴Ingredients 

    Ingredients needed to make an empress gin and tonic.
    • Gin: For this adult beverage full of holiday flavor, I highly suggest you reach for a bottle of Empress gin, allowing for a lovely taste and signature color. 
    • Pure Cranberry Juice & Pomegranate Juice: Unsweetened cranberry juice and pomegranate juice are both in season over the winter holidays, and their sweet-tart flavor profiles add both depth and lovely color to these otherwise simple cocktails. No lemon juice, orange juice or lime juice here! The final addition of tonic water gives these gin cranberry drinks a bit of bittersweet bubbly sophistication. 
    • Tonic Water: While tonic water may look the same as seltzer, the two are vastly different. Tonic water is primarily flavored with a compound called quinine, which is extracted from the bark of the cinchona tree. Not a tonic fan? You could always substitute club soda or soda water to make an alternative cocktail recipe. For a ginger-flavored twist, ginger ale and ginger beer are options as well, which could make for a fun holiday twist!
    • Fresh Cranberries and Pomegranate Seeds: As a lovely garnish to help take your cranberry gin cocktails to new heights! You can even add a rosemary sprig on top if you wanted to add an aromatic scent to each sip. 

    📖 Step by Step Instructions

    This simple cranberry gin cocktail is as easy as 1-2-3 without any fancy cocktail equipment! Here’s how you do it:

    Pouring pomegranate juice and cranberry juice into a glass.

    Add cranberry juice and pomegranate juice to the bottom of your highball glass. 

    Pouring tonic water into a gin and tonic cocktail with empress gin.

    Add ice cubes filling your glass ¾ of the way full before adding tonic water. 

    Pouring empress gin on the top of ice cubes, tonic water and juices.

    To allow your gin to float at the top of your glass, hold a bar spoon over the cocktail glass and slowly pour the gin on top of the spoon.

    stirring together gin and tonic with a glass straw.

    Garnish with cranberries and pomegranate seeds before enjoying! 

    👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips

    Making this pomegranate cranberry gin and tonic recipe is about as easy as it gets in the handcrafted cocktail world. That said, I have a few tips to share before you make some for your next Christmas party:

    • Don’t forget your garnish. To make a holiday cocktail feel extra special, make sure you go the extra mile with your details. Fresh or sugared cranberries, pomegranate arils, and fresh or sugared sprigs of rosemary all contribute to the festive vibes.
    • Batch ahead for large parties. Rather than playing bartender all night, I suggest you batch together the pomegranate, cranberry and gin ahead of time. Set up a serve-yourself cocktail bar with a pitcher of the mix, a shaker and an ice bucket with a small instructional card. Set the tonic and garnishes to the side so your guests can feel like pro mixologists.
    • Looking to sweeten your Gin and Tonic? Add a touch of cranberry syrup into your Christmas gin cocktails! The additional sweetness and bubbly finish from the tonic will help to create your new favorite cocktail!
    Layered empress gin and tonic cocktail.

    💭 Recipe FAQs

    What if I don't have Empress Gin at home?

    Though the flavor and hue of the violet Empress Gin creates a delicious sip, you can use your favorite gin as a replacement. Just know that the layered hues of this cocktail will not look as festive as this gin from Victoria Distillers is distilled with butterfly pea blossom for the purple coloring. 

    Can I use something else in place of the gin for this gin cocktail recipe?

    While I love the woodsy, pine-y flavor of Empress gin, I know it’s not for everyone. For a less complex flavor profile in these cranberry cocktails, try using neutral flavored vodka instead.

    Can I make a virgin Winter Holiday Gin and Tonic Cocktail?

    There's so many different non-alcoholic spirits to purchase these days, and it's a great way to include an alternative twist to the recipe. Feel free to swap in your favorite gin-adjacent for a sober-friendly mocktail!

    Can I make this a little sweeter?

    Sure! I suggest using a squeeze of the cranberry simple syrup that is left over after making sugared cranberries. For more info on infusing simple syrups with flavors, check out my guide here!

    Garnished gin and tonic with a straw.

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    If you try the recipe for this Empress Gin and Tonic, please leave a 🌟 review and share your creation with me on social media! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and Pinterest - for more delicious recipes sent straight to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter! 📧 

    Empress gin and tonic in glasses with cranberry and pomegranate garnish.

    Empress Gin and Tonic with Pomegranate and Cranberry Juice

    Looking for a stunning holiday drink to enjoy throughout these winter months that takes less than 5 minutes to make? It may be the perfect time for you to try this elegant gin and tonic made with purple gin from Empress. This layered Empress Gin and Tonic is the perfect Christmas cocktail to enjoy with your friends and family this holiday season!!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Course: Beverages
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1 Cocktail
    Calories: 159kcal
    Author: Emily Laurae

    Equipment

    • Cocktail Glasses
    • Jigger
    • Mini Ice Cube Silicone Tray
    • Glass Straws

    Ingredients

    • 1 oz Cranberry Juice
    • 1 oz Pomegranate juice
    • Ice
    • 6 oz Tonic Water
    • 2 oz Empress 1908 Gin
    • Fresh Cranberries, Pomegranate Seeds and Rosemary for Garnish

    Instructions

    • Add cranberry juice and pomegranate juice to the bottom of your highball glass.
      1 oz Cranberry Juice, 1 oz Pomegranate juice
    • Add ice filling your glass ¾ of the way full before adding tonic water.
      6 oz Tonic Water, Ice
    • Top your cocktail with Empress Gin! To allow your gin to float at the top of your glass, hold a bar spoon over the cocktail glass and slowly pour the gin on top of the spoon. This allows the liquid to gently fall onto the top of the cocktail rather than sinking to the bottom.
      2 oz Empress 1908 Gin
    • Garnish with cranberries, pomegranate seeds and rosemary before enjoying!
      Fresh Cranberries, Pomegranate Seeds and Rosemary for Garnish

    Video

    Notes

    Tips and Tricks
    Making this pomegranate cranberry gin and tonic recipe is about as easy as it gets in the handcrafted cocktail world. That said, I have a few tips to share before you make some for your next Christmas party:
    • Don’t forget your garnish. To make a holiday cocktail feel extra special, make sure you go the extra mile with your details. Fresh or sugared cranberries, pomegranate arils, and fresh or sugared sprigs of rosemary all contribute to the festive vibes.
    • Batch ahead for large parties. Rather than playing bartender all night, I suggest you batch together the pomegranate, cranberry and gin ahead of time. Set up a serve-yourself cocktail bar with a pitcher of the mix, a shaker and an ice bucket with a small instructional card. Set the tonic and garnishes to the side so your guests can feel like pro mixologists.
    • Looking to sweeten your Gin and Tonic? Add a touch of cranberry syrup into your Christmas gin cocktails! The additional sweetness and bubbly finish from the tonic will help to create your new favorite cocktail!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 159kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 39mg | Potassium: 87mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 13IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 0.1mg
    Enjoyed this recipe?Mention @emilylaurae or tag #emilylaurae!

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    About Emily Laurae

    Emily is the recipe developer, writer, and food photographer behind Emily Laurae. After finishing Pastry School and working as a chef in the restaurant industry, she created this blog to share those skills with home bakers and creators all over the world!

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