1/4 cup white granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
Splash of orange juice
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Fresh English Thyme leaves
Gin of choice (I used St. George)
Tonic of choice (I used Fever Tree)
1. In a small saucepan, mix together the cranberries, sugar, water, splash of orange juice and vanilla extract. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes, pressing the cranberries with the back of your spoon until they pop (beware–they’ll splatter!). Add the fresh thyme and smash with the back of your spoon–this will release its aromatics. Note: The mixture should be much looser than traditional cranberry sauce. Pour the mixture through a strainer, discarding the solids, and reserving the cranberry syrup.
2. To assemble the cocktail, add about 1 fluid ounces of syrup to each glass. Top with a few cubes of ice, 2 fluid ounces of gin and then top with tonic. Mix and garnish with fresh sprigs of thyme.
Makes 4 cocktails
