Cocktails bring festive spirit to any occasion.
We’ve created three simple gin cocktail recipes with our Shining Cliff Derbyshire Dry Gins to see you through the season, including a Breakfast Martini (perfect for Christmas morning), a warming Winter Gin and ginger to enjoy by the fire, and a Derbyshire twist on the classic French 75, for pouring at parties.
Breakfast Martini
A short, classy, citrusy serve. Ideal to toast the arrival of Christmas morning, or perhaps as a reviver on New Year’s Day. Both our Shining Cliff Original Gin and our Shining Cliff Citrus Gin work well here.
Ingredients
- 50ml Shining Cliff Original Gin
- 15ml Triple Sec
- 15ml simple sugar syrup
- 1 tsp orange marmalade
- Strip of orange zest to garnish
Method
Measure all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker.
Add some crushed ice, then shake and strain into a chilled coupe or Martini glass.
Garnish with an orange twist.
Winter Gin, with warming ginger ale, aromatic basil and cranberries
Our Shining Cliff Winter Gin is created by carefully ageing our juniper-led Shining Cliff Spiced Gin in an oak, ex-bourbon cask for additional spice and wood notes, making it perfect for winter. This serve is so simple to put together – it will be ready in the same time it takes to make a simple G&T. The garnishes give it a special aroma and festive feel. This serve looks great in one of our Castello tumblers or highballs. Our Shining Cliff Spiced Gin also works well here.
Ingredients
- 50ml Shining Cliff Spiced Gin
- 150ml Ginger Beer (we like Franklin & Sons)
- 2-3 basil leaves
- 2-3 fresh cranberries
Method
Pour the Winter Gin and ginger beer into a glass, over ice.
Bruise the basil leaves gently between your fingers to release the aroma, then add to the glass with the cranberries.
Stir and serve.
Derbyshire 75
A Derbyshire take on the classic French 75, using a Derbyshire sparkling wine instead of champagne. This simple, sparkling cocktail is perfect for Christmas celebrations and soirees. Both our Shining Cliff Original Gin and our Shining Cliff Citrus Gin work well here.
Ingredients
- 35ml Shining Cliff Citrus Gin
- 15ml fresh lemon juice
- 10ml simple sugar syrup
- Renishaw Hall Derbyshire Sparkling White Wine (or another sparkling wine / champagne of your choice)
Method
Add the gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup to a flute over crushed ice.
Top with sparkling wine and stir very gently before serving.
Pop into our Distillery shop to browse our range of craft spirits and cocktail glassware.
