12 Festive Gin Garnishes For Your Christmas G&Ts

December 17, 2021

Cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, oranges; we usually associate these flavours with mulled wine around Christmas time. But wine isn’t the only drink that can be given some festive flair! Luckily for us, gin is so diverse it goes well with just about any garnish if you can get the pairings right. However, it can be easy to get carried away with aesthetics when it comes to gin garnishes. That’s why we’ve put together the ultimate guide to Christmas gin garnishes and their recommended pairings, so you can sip on festive G&Ts that taste as good as they look. Try one (or all) of them this holiday season, and find your new favourite.

1. Apple, Cinnamon & Star Anise

Winter flavors such as apple, cinnamon and star anise all add a holiday type feel to a classic G&T, making them the perfect cocktail twist for the cold, winter months.

Try it with Three Wrens Apple Crumble Edition Gin

Black Peppercorns & Strawberries gin garnish paired with Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin

2. Black Peppercorns & Strawberries

Strawberry is the perfect garnish for a bold, intense flavour that infuses easily. Add some black peppercorns to balance out the sweetness, and top it up with a good quality tonic. Sweet, spicy and loaded with gin. Just how we like it!

Try it with Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin

Blackberries & Orange gin garnish paired with Cotswolds Distillery Wildflower Gin

3. Blackberries & Orange

Made with perfectly festive garnishes you can easily grab from the supermarket, this G&T is great when you have some last minute guests coming round. Serve with your favourite tonic for a delicious combination of winter flavours.

Try it with Cotswolds Distillery Wildflower Gin

Cinnamon Stick & Orange Peel gin garnish paired with Hayman’s Exotic Citrus Gin

4. Cinnamon Stick & Orange Peel

A cinnamon stick is a gorgeous garnish to have to hand over Christmas, especially when making drinks for a crowd. Enjoy over ice with a splash of tonic and a large slice of orange. Easy!

Try it with Hayman’s Exotic Citrus Gin

Clementine & Thyme gin garnish paired with Silent Pool Rare Citrus Gin

5. Clementine & Thyme

You can trust clementine and thyme to make a quality, flavoursome garnish, and a delightfully festive serve at Christmas time. This cocktail looks best with a heaping help of garnishes, so don’t be afraid to use a couple of big clementine slices as well as a few healthy sprigs of thyme.

Try it with Silent Pool Rare Citrus Gin

Cloves & Orange gin garnish paired with Dodds Explorer’s Citrus & Spice Organic Gin

6. Cloves & Orange

We think the most classic flavours for Christmas are cloves and oranges. So what better garnishes to add to your winter gin and tonic? Add these seasonal scents to your favourite citrus gin and enjoy.

Try it with Dodds Explorer’s Citrus & Spice Organic Gin

Cranberry & Lime gin garnish paired with East London Liquor Co. Gin

7. Cranberry & Lime

Of course, you could opt for just the traditional lime in your G&T, but where’s the festive fun in that? Adding some Christmas to your cocktail can be as simple as adding some seasonal notes of cranberry.

Try it with East London Liquor Co. Gin

Dried Orange, Cranberries & Redcurrants gin garnish paired with Stranger & Sons Gin

8. Dried Orange, Cranberries & Redcurrants

Orange will enhance the flavour of any gin, especially those with citrus notes. But if you can, use a dried orange for a slightly more intense flavour. Sprinkle over the cranberries and redcurrants for a top notch seasonal garnish.

Try it with Stranger & Sons Gin

Grapefruit & Pink Peppercorns gin garnish paired with Portobello Road Gin

9. Grapefruit & Pink Peppercorns

Sure, grapefruit can be enjoyed throughout the year, but we particularly appreciate its amazing flavours during the festive period. Add some pink peppercorns for an aromatic mix of sweet and spicy, and get ready to enjoy your new festive favourite.

Try it with Portobello Road Gin

Pomegranate & Rosemary gin garnish paired with Hendrick’s Gin

10. Pomegranate & Rosemary

This holiday gin and tonic is full of the festive flavours of pomegranate and rosemary. Indulge in the amazing aromas of rosemary as you sip, while taking in the bright, gloriously festive Christmas colours of the pomegranate.

Try it with Hendrick’s Gin

11. Star Anise & Lemon Peel

The delicious, citrusy burst of flavour from these garnishes is a real treat. While it’s a great and interesting drink to serve at any occasion, at this time of year it tastes like Christmas in a glass!

Try it with OPIHR Gin

Vanilla Pod gin garnish paired with BLOOM Jasmine & Rose Gin

12. Vanilla Pod

This is an unexpected combination that works wonderfully. The vanilla adds a delicious sweetness to the drink which makes you feel like you’re indulging more than just a regular G&T. It’s wintery enough to enjoy at Christmas, but not too festive in flavour that you can’t enjoy it well past December.

Try it with BLOOM Jasmine & Rose Gin

Shop Gin Greeting Cards