Spiced Cranberry Ginger Mocktail with Rosemary
A sparkling cranberry mocktail with fresh ginger, orange juice and cinnamon syrup, shaken cold and topped with soda water. Alcohol-free, ready in 5 minutes.
I always want everyone at the table to have a festive drink in hand, including the kids and anyone who does not drink alcohol. This mocktail is tangy, fizzy and gently spicy, and it looks as good as any cocktail. Fresh ginger gives it a lively kick that I really enjoy.
Saúl’s Tip
Chill the glasses and all the liquids before mixing. Because soda water goes in at the end, a cold drink keeps its bubbles much longer.
Tips for Success
- Press the ginger gently. If you crush it hard, the drink turns bitter.
- Add the soda water last, straight from the fridge, for the best fizz.
- Use unsweetened cranberry juice if you can. It tastes brighter, and you control the sweetness.
- Use fresh cranberries as garnish, not dried ones.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make cinnamon syrup up to 2 weeks ahead: simmer ½ cup sugar, ½ cup water and 2 cinnamon sticks for 10 minutes, then cool. To serve a crowd, mix the cranberry juice, orange juice and syrup in a pitcher, scaled up for your guests, and chill for up to 1 day. Top each glass with soda water when you pour.
Variations
- Add 1 ½ oz of vodka or gin per glass for an adults-only drink.
- Use ginger beer in place of soda water for a stronger ginger kick.
- Swap rosemary for a cinnamon stick.
Spiced Cranberry Ginger Mocktail with Rosemary
Ingredients
Instructions
- Put the ginger slices in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Press them lightly with a spoon or muddler (a tool for crushing) 3 or 4 times to release the flavor.
- Add the cranberry juice, orange juice and cinnamon syrup.
- Add 1 cup of ice, close the lid and shake for about 10 seconds, until the outside feels cold.
- Fill a tall glass with fresh ice.
- Strain (pour through the shaker's built-in strainer to hold back the ice and ginger) into the glass.
- Top with the cold soda water and stir once, gently, so the bubbles stay.
- Tuck a few cranberries and the rosemary sprig into the glass and serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make cinnamon syrup?
Simmer equal parts sugar and water with 2 cinnamon sticks for 10 minutes, then cool and remove the sticks. It keeps in the fridge for 2 weeks.
Can I use cranberry juice cocktail instead of pure cranberry juice?
Yes, but it is sweeter. Cut the cinnamon syrup to 2 tsp.
Why use fresh cranberries as a garnish?
Fresh berries float and stay firm. Dried cranberries sink and make the drink sweeter.
