Happy Yule!
Happy Winter Solstice!
Happy Great Convergence!
With all that is going on surrounding December 21, 2020 what better way to celebrate than with a delicious cocktail?
When coming up with this recipe I wanted to make sure it was accessible to most people with a low difficulty in making it. I also wanted to incorporate ingredients that are festive in this celebration. So I started with cranberries. This is the season in which they are ripe and bountiful.
Cranberries are known to symbolize abundance and gratitude. They have a lot of great nutritious and detoxifying properties, which is why they often are linked to cleansing and kidney health. Cranberries promote healing and rejuvenation, not only in ones body, but also support healing your mental and spiritual wellbeing. Cranberries are associated with courage and action as well, which I think we could all use as we manifest during the convergence and winter solstice. With all of those amazing benefits it seemed like a great way to start the cocktail.
Some other ideas if you have left over cranberries:
– String them together for a garland decoration for a Christmas tree
– Place 5-10 on your winter altar. Every day use these to symbolize and say
aloud what you are grateful for
– Make a delicious treat or offering
Next up on the ingredient list we have fresh rosemary. If you don’t have fresh rosemary available, dried can also work. This CAN be substituted with another fresh herb like thyme or basil, but the rosemary and cranberry combo is ideal.
Rosemary is one of the oldest kinds incense and has been burned to cleanse ones space physically, energetically, and spiritually for millennia. The aroma of rosemary has been connected with improving mood, clearing the mind, clearing your aura and relieving stress. It is also linked to improving memory and boosting confidence in your creative or magical abilities.
Last up in the ingredients I wanted to use is cinnamon. Cinnamon has many wonderful benefits as well. It is loaded with antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory benefits, reduces stress, helps fight off infections and even improves digestion. It also is just really tasty with cranberry and rosemary.
Now for the cocktail itself: Yule Be Joyful
8-10 fresh cranberries
1 small sprig of rosemary
2 oz Gin (or your preferred spirit of choice)
.5 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
.25 oz cinnamon simple syrup*
1.5 oz Ginger Beer (or Club soda)
To start muddle the cranberries and rosemary together in the shaker tin. Add gin (or preferred spirit), lemon juice and cinnamon simple syrup and ice. Shake strongly for about 10-15 seconds. Strain out into a glass and top with Ginger Beer. You can also top with club soda to make the drink a little less sweet but still bubbly. If possible strain over a fine mesh strainer to avoid extra cranberry and rosemary bits floating in your drink. It won’t hurt to have them in the glass; it will just make the cocktail look a little messier. You can also serve this in a rocks glass with ice.
You can get creative with the garnish. Float a couple whole cranberries and let them soak up the alcohol for an end of the drink treat.
Make some crystalized cranberries by soaking them in some of the extra cinnamon simple syrup, roll in sugar and then allow them to dry for about an hour.
Or take a fresh sprig of rosemary and singe it. This will cleanse your space and make the aroma a little smokier.
Add some fresh grated cinnamon on top for a different aroma experience.
*To make the cinnamon simple syrup heat 1/3 cup of water on the stove. As soon as the water starts to boil reduce the heat and add 1/3 cup of sugar. Stir until all of the sugar is dissolved and add a teaspoon of ground cinnamon. You can add more cinnamon if you like. Keep in the fridge. It’s a great addition to any coffee or tea. It’s also functional to use for other cocktails that call for sweetener like an old fashioned, daiquiri, etc.
Hope you enjoy! Happy Yule!