Looking for a showstopping cocktail to impress your guests this holiday season? Look no further than the Red Nose Gimlet, a festive gin and lime drink with hints of cinnamon, a hit of apricot brandy, and an optional sherbet-frosted rim for extra pizzazz. This fancy Christmas cocktail comes to us from the mixology masters at Gothic Bar inside London’s iconic Midland Grand hotel.
Ingredients You’ll Need
To mix up a Red Nose Gimlet at home, you’ll need:
- Sloe gin (Gothic Bar uses Hepple’s sloe & hawthorn gin)
- Apricot brandy
- Lime cordial (such as Rose’s)
- Fresh lime juice
- Cinnamon simple syrup (recipe below)
- Lime sherbet or finely crushed lemon drop candies for rimming (optional)
Cinnamon Syrup Recipe
The homemade cinnamon syrup is the secret to this drink’s festive flair. To make it, you’ll need:
- 70g caster sugar
- 70ml water
- 1/2 cinnamon stick
Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan. Heat and stir until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, add the cinnamon stick, and let infuse overnight. Strain out the cinnamon and store the syrup in the fridge for up to a month. These quantities make extra, but the syrup is delicious in desserts, hot toddies, tea, coffee, and hot chocolate too!
How to Make a Red Nose Gimlet
Once your syrup is ready, it’s time to build the drink:
- If you’re frosting the rim, dip the edge of a nick & nora glass first in lime juice, then in sherbet or crushed lemon drops.
- Add the following to a cocktail shaker:
- 25ml sloe gin
- 20ml apricot brandy
- 12.5ml Rose’s lime cordial
- 12.5ml fresh lime juice
- 5ml cinnamon syrup
- Fill with ice and shake well until chilled.
- Strain into your prepared glass and serve. Garnish with a cinnamon stick if desired.
“The combination of sloe gin, apricot, lime and cinnamon makes for a truly festive flavour. The sherbet rim adds a fun touch too – it feels like a proper Christmas treat in a glass!”
Jack Porter, head bartender at Gothic Bar
Tips For Serving
The Red Nose Gimlet is an ideal welcome drink for holiday parties or a classy accompaniment to Christmas desserts. For a alcohol-free version, try swapping the gin and brandy for juniper syrup and apricot juice.
With its sparkling sugared rim, jewel-toned hue and aromatic cinnamon scent, this gimlet looks and smells as delectable as it tastes. It’s guaranteed to spread some Christmas cheer to all your guests this season. Cheers!
