Festive Sips with Fresh Herbs
You’ve been growing your garden all year and now you’ve got an abundance of herbs but can only do so many rosemary chickens. What to do with all the rest of these fragrant herbs? Herb-infused cocktails!
With Thanksgiving coming up and Christmas on the horizon, now is a great time to try out some new and interesting drink recipes on your friends and family.
Whether you’re hosting a full house or settling in with a few close friends, herb-infused cocktails add a touch of warmth and elegance to any holiday gathering. Fresh rosemary, thyme, and other garden favorites bring a surprising depth to seasonal flavors, making each drink feel a little more thoughtful and festive.
Rosemary Cranberry Sparkler
Why it works:
Rosemary brings that woodsy, evergreen note we associate with the holidays, while cranberry keeps the drink bright, tart, and celebratory.
Ingredients (1 drink):
2 oz vodka
2 oz cranberry juice (unsweetened if possible)
½ oz simple syrup (rosemary-infused—see below)
½ oz fresh lemon juice
Sparkling wine or prosecco to top
Fresh cranberries + a rosemary sprig for garnish
Rosemary Simple Syrup:
Simmer ½ cup sugar + ½ cup water with 3–4 rosemary sprigs for 5 minutes. Let cool, strain.
To make:
Fill a shaker with ice.
Add vodka, cranberry juice, rosemary simple syrup, and lemon juice. Shake well.
Strain into a coupe or champagne flute.
Top with chilled prosecco.
Garnish with a rosemary sprig and a few floating cranberries.
Flavor profile:
Bright, tart, lightly herbal, festive, and endlessly sippable.
Thyme & Honey Bourbon Warmer
Why it works:
This one is cozy, soothing, and perfect for cold nights. The thyme adds a subtle earthiness that pairs beautifully with warm honey and bourbon.
Ingredients (1 drink):
2 oz bourbon
1 oz fresh lemon juice
¾ oz honey-thyme syrup (recipe below)
Hot water
Thyme sprigs + lemon peel for garnish
Honey-Thyme Syrup:
Warm ¼ cup honey + ¼ cup water in a small pot with 3–4 sprigs of thyme until dissolved. Steep 10 minutes. Strain.
To make:
In a heatproof mug, combine bourbon, lemon juice, and honey-thyme syrup.
Add 2–3 oz hot water (or more to taste).
Stir gently.
Garnish with a fresh thyme sprig and a strip of lemon peel.
Flavor profile:
Warming, lightly sweet, citrusy, and herbal—a softer, elegant twist on a hot toddy.
Cucumber Mint Garden Fizz
Why it works:
If you’re feeling the need for something light, bright, and refreshing, this one ticks all those boxes.
Ingredients (1 drink):
3–4 thin cucumber slices
2 oz gin
1 oz fresh lime juice
0.75 oz simple syrup
0.5 oz cucumber juice (freshly pressed if possible)
Prosecco
Cucumber ribbon or slice for garnish
To make:
In a shaker, gently muddle the cucumber slices to release their juice and aroma.
Add gin, lime juice, simple syrup, and cucumber juice.
Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously until chilled.
Strain into a chilled coupe or rocks glass.
Top with a splash of prosecco.
Garnish with a cucumber ribbon or a crisp slice.
Flavor profile:
Cool, clean, and bright—an herby, garden-fresh twist on the classic gimlet.
