Convenience is key when it comes to entertaining this Holiday season! Thanks to Georgian Bay Spirit Co., a perfect Gin cocktail can be served to your guests in minutes! Cranberry Gin Smash is a festive and crowd pleasing cocktail!
This post contains sponsored content. I was fortunate enough to receive monetary compensation and/or products from Georgian Bay Spirit Co. Although compensated for my efforts, all opinions are my own.
It’s three days until Christmas. It’s been snowing all day and I have listened to Eric Clapton’s new Christmas Album, Happy Xmas, about 30000 times. All in all, it’s been a great day. It’s also Saturday, which means I could have friends showing-up at the doorstep with little warning, or invited out to a impromptu houseparty. I could also spend the evening wrapped in a fuzzy blanket and eating popcorn. Honestly, each option sounds good! I’m pretty laissez faire about the whole thing. It’s the Holidays and I don’t think anything could rattle me.
Last minute guests or an invite is definitely something that is common during the Holidays. I welcome the opportunity! My secret? Don’t panic. They haven’t arrived unannounced because they expect a three course meal. Nope! In fact, they are there to see YOU and spend time with you! Any food or drinks served is a bonus!
First thing’s first: calm those nerves with a cocktail. The drink of the season for me has been Georgian Bay Spirit Co.’s Cranberry Gin Smash It’s delicious, convenient and only $3.49 at the MLCC. Heck ya! But in all honesty, I’ve been telling everyone to get it! It’s a Canadian product that is perfect for this time of year. The drink is tart, yet sweet (but not too sweet, yaknow?), lightly carbonated and made with award-winning Canadian Gin. The cocktail can be drank straight from the can, but it is easy to turn it into a stunning signature cocktail. The Cranberry Gin Smashes only come in tall boys (473 ml cans) which means that one can can easily be split between two guests! Now, doesn’t that help with the ol’ budget?
All you need is some nice glassware like a stemless wine glass. However, anything will do! Seriously, even a highball or a martini glass will work just fine. Just chose something that you actually want to hold. There is something to be said for a glass that makes you feel fancy, amiright?
Next, cut-up some lime wedges and moisten the rim of the glass, and dip into a shallow bowl of sugar to rim the glass. Fill the glass up with ice cubes and frozen cranberries. Now, you can freeze fresh cranberries ahead of time but it’s waaaayyy easier to buy them pre-frozen. They can be found in the frozen fruit section of your grocer! I am not sure if thi a seasonal thing only, but I found them at 4 major grocery stores in Winnipeg and they all had them! Crack open a can of Georgian Bay Cranberry Smash and pour over the ice and frozen cranberries. Throw in a rosemary stem and call it a day! The result is a stunning cocktail that goes down easy while looking positively festive.
Looking for other cocktails? I’ve got you, friend! How about an equally festive Spiked Canadian Hot Chocolate that boasts Canadian Whiskey and Mint? Gin drinker? Try out my Clementine Gin Muddle, a refreshingly crisp and citrus winter cocktail! Dreaming of the beach? Grab some sparkling fruit juice and rum and make a few rounds of my Sparkling Fruit Juice Mojitos!
CTV Morning Live Winnipeg recently challenged me to come-up with a guest worthy spread last minute and it was a blast! Also, it was actually easier than I anticipated! Check-out my segment on CTV Morning Live Winnipeg here! I shared these cocktails as well as the suggestion to stock-up on puff pastry and jam! I want to thank the amazing hosts and crew for having me on yet again! It’s been a great year blogging wise for me and it is due in part to all the amazing people that support me and provide me with such unique opportunities!
Happy Holidays, friends! Looking forward to seeing where Peppers & Pennies goes in 2019!
Festive Cranberry Gin Smash
Ingredients
- 1 Can Georgian Bay Cranberry Gin Smash
- Lime Wedges
- Sugar
- Ice Cubes
- Frozen Cranberries
- Rosemary Sprigs
Instructions
- Moisten rim of glass with lime wedge. Turn glass upside down and dip in sugar to create a sugar rim.
- Fill glass half-way with mixture of frozen cranberries and ice cubes, careful not to ruin sugar rim.
- Pour chilled Georgian Bay Cranberry Gin Smash over frozen cranberries and ice. One can can be split between two glasses.
- Garnish with sprig of rosemary. Cheers and enjoy the Holidays!
