Cranberry Gin Cocktail

Tart cranberry juice, fresh lime and floral gin come together perfectly in this seasonal Cranberry Gin Cocktail. It's slightly sweet, slightly tangy, and easy enough to mix up for one, or scale into a pitcher for a crowd. Pair it with our Cranberry Mocktail for those that want a non-alcoholic option!

Our Go-To Easy Thanksgiving Cocktail

We have no shortage of cocktail recipes on our website, but when it comes to something that's truly very easy, but also very festive for the holidays, this one tops our list. It only takes 5 ingredients and about 5 minutes, but that gorgeous, deep cranberry red color and thyme sprig garnish makes it look like you tried much harder!

This is basically just a cranberry gin and tonic. The gin brings the herbal, botanical notes, unsweetened cranberry juice keeps it tart, maple syrup rounds it out with warm sweetness, and fresh lime adds a bright kick of acidity that pulls the whole thing together.

If you've only had cranberry juice in a vodka cranberry, the gin version is noticeably more interesting, IMO. The botanicals and cranberry tartness really complement each other instead of just coexisting!

You'll be happy to know it's also easy to prep ahead, and you can even do a big pitcher batch. It's great for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or anything in between.

Add it to your lineup along with two of our other family favorites: our mistletoe margaritas and hot apple cider cocktail. Preferably, enjoy a glass alongside a festive app, like our sausage roll wreath with a cranberry dipping sauce!

Key Ingredients Needed For This Cranberry Gin Cocktail

• Gin: We highly recommend a good quality gin here – we like Bombay Sapphire or Beefeater. Since there are only 5 ingredients, the gin's botanicals carry a lot of the flavor. Don't like gin? Sub vodka 1:1 or try our cranberry orange whiskey cocktail for a warmer, cozier option.
• Cranberry juice: We use 100% unsweetened cranberry juice, which lets us control the sweetness and lean into the natural tartness. If all you have is sweetened cranberry juice cocktail, it works, but see the FAQ below for how to adjust.
• Maple syrup: We love the warm fall flavor maple adds. Sub 1:1 with simple syrup or agave if that's what you have.
• Lime: Freshly squeezed is our #1 rule for cocktails! With so few ingredients, lime juice really brightens this whole cocktail, but bottled might make yours bitter.

How to Make a Cranberry Gin Cocktail

Shake the base

Add gin, cranberry juice, maple syrup and lime juice to a cocktail shaker half filled with ice. Shake well, about 15 seconds, until the outside of the shaker is nice and frosty.

Pour and top it off

Fill a cocktail glass with ice, strain the cocktail into the glass, and top with club soda.

Garnish (if you want to!)

A lime wheel, a few fresh cranberries and a sprig of thyme or rosemary make this instantly festive – red and green, no extra effort.

If you have extra time on your hands or are prepping this ahead, sugared cranberries take it up a notch.

Top Tips from the CK Test Kitchen!

• Storage: The shaken base (everything except club soda) keeps in a sealed jar or pitcher in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. After that, we've noticed that freshly squeezed lime juice tends to get pretty bitter. Give it a good stir before pouring, and always add the club soda right before serving (to each individual glass).
• Tonic swap: Using tonic water? Reduce the maple syrup a bit, since tonic already contains sugar.
• Make it with pomegranate: Pomegranate juice subs beautifully for the cranberry juice for another seasonal variation.

Can You Make Cranberry Gin Cocktails Ahead for a Crowd?

Definitely, we do it all the time! Mix everything except the club soda in a pitcher, refrigerate, then pour into ice-filled glasses and top each one with soda when serving.

For 8 cocktails, you'll need: 2 cups (16 oz) gin, 2 cups (16 oz) cranberry juice, 1 cup (8 oz) maple syrup, and ½ cup (4 oz) lime juice. Top each glass individually with 1–2 oz club soda. Don't add it to the pitcher, or it'll go flat before the second round.

Can I Use Bottled Cranberry Juice Cocktail (Like Ocean Spray)?

Yes. Cranberry juice cocktail is pre-sweetened, so skip the maple syrup entirely, then taste and add a little back only if you want it sweeter. The drink will be a touch less tart than the unsweetened version, but still delicious. If you're choosing at the store, 100% unsweetened cranberry juice gives you the most control.

Can I Make This Without Alcohol?

Absolutely. Skip the gin and either replace it with extra club soda for a light, tart cranberry-lime spritzer, or use a non-alcoholic gin alternative to keep the botanical flavor. We've tried Ritual Zero Proof Gin and think it's pretty good!

Or if you want something a little more complex, our Cranberry Mocktail is similar to this, but has a boost of flavor from cinnamon simple syrup, orange juice and ginger beer.

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