Prepare a Gin Cocktail for Winter
Martinis don’t know the season, but your brain is very aware of them, and right now your brain is probably craving holiday, holiday treats and libations. In terms of cocktails, this usually means hot punches, heavily spiced dark spirits, eggnog , or hard candies.
For the gin lover, this is a difficult time. The beauty of gin lies in its subtle aromatic profile with juniper and vegetal aromas, and this profile can be easily hidden or erased with spices, heat and candies. Luckily, there are plenty of ways a gin enthusiast can enjoy their favorite drink without sacrificing holiday cheer.
Just lean on cranberries
Cranberries look like a holiday. They are bright crimson, like baubles, making them look like houses hanging from a Christmas tree. The easiest way to capitalize on their festive look is to freeze them , then prick a few with a toothpick and dip them into a martini glass . If you want your taps to add style as well as substance, you can marinate them for a wintery dirty martini or ferment them in honey and use the ruby liquid to make a simple punch (more on gin punch in a moment).
You can also use cranberry sauce to make a simple spritze (1 1/2 oz gin, 1 tablespoon cranberry sauce, 3 oz sparkling wine) or add gin to sparkling cranberry juice (like Martinelli’s) and call it a cocktail.
Celebrate citrus season
I used to think it strange that such bright, vibrant fruits were in season in the dead of winter, but that’s when we need citrus fruits (and the vitamin C they contain) the most. Explore the vast world of tangerines, tangelos, satsuma, pink lemons, and all their hybrids with French 75. Replace or supplement the lemon juice with one or more of these seasonal gems, and garnish with a Beth orange if you hate wasting the rind.
Make a (gentle, respectful) punch
Gin toddy is a little more difficult. A little heat can open up the gin, allowing its botanical notes to reach your nose so you can taste them more fully, but it can erase the more subtle floral notes. To make sure you still get the taste of gin, choose something with a lot of juniper and/or a fair amount of spruce (Tanqueray is never a bad choice) and avoid anything super floral that can become tannic when heated. Making gin toddy is very easy. We’ve covered this before , but just to recap:
Mix 1 1/2-2 oz good quality dry gin with 3/4 oz lemon juice (use Meyer lemons if you have them), 1 teaspoon sugar and 2 oz hot water or your favorite tea.
Add some darkness to your martini
The smoke and spices don’t scream “Christmas,” but they do feel wintry, and that’s close enough for most people. For a martini, you can fumigate the glass with a small piece of wood, cinnamon bark, or a star anise pod; or you can rinse the glass with smoky tape (both are great options).
Amaro and bitters are another way to add chilly depth. Stick to the classics and add a couple of drops of angostura or orange bitter to your martini (or other favorite gin cocktail) or opt for a “holiday” bitter like pecan or cinnamon. You can also replace dry vermouth with something dark and sweet, or add amaro with more baking spices.
You can also just make a regular martini; Gin still tastes like a Christmas tree.