Gin
Enjoy a few of these seasonal cocktails with a bottle of our apple-based gin. These simple recipes are easy to build and a great way to showcase our Gin for family and friends any time of the year. All you need is a bottle of our booze and the easy-to-make syrups and juices listed below. We’ll continue to add to this list as our seasonal cocktail menu changes. Cheers!
THe Martinez
The Martinez is a riff on a traditional Manhattan, substituting gin for whiskey. Since we aren’t producing a Vermouth (…yet), our version uses a Maraschino syrup in place of the traditional sweet Vermouth and Maraschino Liqueur.
Ingredients:
2 oz Highside Gin (preferably our Barrel Aged Gin)
.25 oz Maraschno Syrup (we recommend using syrup from a jar of Luxardo Maraschino cherries, roughly 3 bar spoons)
3 dashes Angostora Bitters
3 dashes Orange Bitters
Garnish: Maraschino cherry and orange twist
Mix all ingredients, add ice, and stir for 10 seconds, or until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass and garnish with one Luxardo maraschino cherry and a thin orange twist.
Autumn apple
The Autumn Apple is a fall favorite using apple cider, cinnamon, and freshly-grated nutmeg, with a slight citrus kick.
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Highside Gin
.5 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
.5 oz Fresh Apple Cider
.5 oz Cinnamon Simple Syrup (see below)
Garnish: Apple slice and grated nutmeg
Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, add ice, and shake vigorously for 5-10 seconds, or until chilled. Strain into a coupe glass (or similar stemmed glass) and garnish with a thin apple slice and freshly-grated nutmeg (we use a mandolin to get our apple sliced super thin).
Cinnamon Simple Syrup: Bring 1 cup of water to a boil and mix in 1 cup of sugar, stirring until fully dissolved. Reduce heat to a simmer, add 4-6 cinnamon sticks (broken), and cover for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, let cool, then strain solution to remove cinnamon sticks. Store in the refrigerator.
Cranberry Gimlet
The Cranberry Gimlet is a riff on the traditional lime gimlet, using a Cranberry simple syrup in place of plain sugar. The tartness of the cranberry and lime are balanced with the slightly sweet finish of our apple-based gin.
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Highside Gin
.5 oz Cranberry Simple Syrup (see below)
.5 oz Fresh Lime Juice
2 dashes Angostora Bitters
Garnish: Cranberries
Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, add ice, and shake vigorously for 5-10 seconds, or until chilled. Strain into a coupe glass (or similar stemmed glass) and garnish with fresh cranberries (and rosemary if available!).
Cranberry Simple Syrup: Bring 1 cup of water to a boil and mix in 1 cup of sugar, stirring until fully dissolved. Turn down heat to a simmer and add 1 cup of fresh (or frozen, if not in season) cranberries. Let simmer 10mins, strain solution, and let cool. Store in the refrigerator.
Rabarbaro negroni
A riff on a classic Negroni with our intensely bitter Amaro Mele filling the role of both Campari and Sweet Vermouth. Since our Amaro is light on sweetness, we finish this with just a dash of simple syrup.
Ingredients:
.75 oz Highside Gin
.75 oz Highside Amaro Mele
.25 oz Cranberry Simple Syrup (see ‘Cranberry Gimlet’ recipe)
Garnish: Thick-sliced orange peel
Mix all ingredients, add ice, and stir for 10 seconds, or until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass and garnish with a thick slice of orange peel.
Rose-pomegranate collins
A crisp, refreshing, and bubbly cocktail, balancing fresh fruit juice with delicate floral notes. The rose water syrup brings out the rose petal used in our gin in this bright Spring cocktail.
Ingredients:
1.25 oz Highside Gin
.5 oz Rose water-ginger-rosemary syrup (see below)
.25 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
.25 oz Pomegranate Juice
Soda water
Garnish: Frozen pomegranate seeds, rosemary sprig
Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker (less soda water), add ice, and shake vigorously for 5-10 seconds, or until chilled. Strain into a highball glass that is over-filled with ice. Top remainder of glass with soda water and lightly stir once. Garnish with frozen pomegranate seeds and fresh rosemary.
Rose Water-Ginger-Rosemary Syrup: Add 1/2 cup dried rose bud/petal to 1 cup warm water and let steep for 30 minutes. Strain to separate rose water from bud/petal. Bring rose water to a boil and mix in 1 cup of sugar, stirring until fully dissolved. Reduce heat to a simmer, add 2-3 rosemary sprigs and 3-4 small slices of ginger root and cover for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, let cool, then strain. Store in the refrigerator.
Blueberry-thyme Fizz v1.0
A light, refreshing, gin-based cocktail made with fresh blueberries and thyme. The vinegar-based shrub is easy to make and pairs great with soda water and our botanical-forward gin for a clean, crisp taste.
NOTE: For the version we made in the 2nd Virtual Cocktail Class (with egg white), check out recipe v2.0 below!
Ingredients:
1.25 oz Highside Gin
.5 oz Blueberry-Thyme Shrub (see below)
.25 oz Lemon Juice
Soda water to top
Garnish: Skewered blueberries
Mix the gin, shrub, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker, add ice, and shake vigorously for 5-10 seconds, or until chilled. Strain into a coupe glass, top with a splash of soda water, and garnish with a skewer of fresh blueberries.
Blueberry-Thyme Shrub: Bring 1 cup water to boil with 1 cup sugar, 1 cup blueberries, and 1 bunch of fresh thyme. Stir and let simmer for 10-15mins. Once finished, stir in 3/4 cup of red wine vinegar. Strain and let cool before storing in the refrigerator. Tip: If you aren’t a huge fan of vinegar, dial down the addition to 1/2 or 1/3 cup.
Bees Knees
A bright, citrus-forward cocktail made with fresh lemon juice and honey. The perfect summertime sipper!
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Highside Gin
.5 oz Lemon Juice
.5 oz Honey Simple Syrup (1:1 honey to water ratio)
Garnish: Edible Flower
Mix the gin, lemon juice, and honey simple syrup in a cocktail shaker, add ice, and shake vigorously for 5-10 seconds, or until chilled. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a float of your favorite edible flower.
watermelon gin punch
Fresh watermelon puree and mint pair incredibly well with our gin in this refreshing summertime drink. Try scaling this up and serving out of a pitcher at your next BBQ.
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Highside Gin
2 oz Watermelon Puree
.5 oz Lime Juice
.5 oz Mint Simple Syrup (see below)
1 dash Peychaud’s Bitters
Garnish: Fresh Mint Sprig
Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, add ice, and shake vigorously for 5-10 seconds, or until chilled. Pour entire contents of shaker (including ice) into a chilled rocks glass. Garnish with fresh mint.
Mint Simple Syrup: Bring 1 cup of water to a boil and mix in 1 cup of sugar, stirring until fully dissolved. Turn off heat and mix in 1 cup of fresh mint leaves. Let stand for 15minutes before straining out solids. Optional: For an extra mint kick (and some pretty specks in your drink), blend simple syrup with additional fresh mint leaves after you’ve let it cool.
Highside Hanky Panky
A riff on the traditional Hanky Panky cocktail with Gin, Sweet Vermouth, and Fernet. Our version is a little heavy-handed on the fernet for a bold and bitter kick and a touch of sweetness.
Ingredients:
.75 oz Highside Gin
.5 oz Sweet Vermouth (we use a cranberry simple syrup in the tasting room since we don’t make a vermouth)
.5 oz Highside Fernet Lario
2 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
Garnish: Citrus Twist
Mix all ingredients, add ice, and stir for 10 seconds, or until chilled. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a citrus twist.
GIN Basil Smash
Another summertime sipper that combines our apple-based gin with fresh basil and lemon juice. A simple, herbacious cocktail that goes down dangerously smooth!
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Highside Gin
.75 oz Basil Simple Syrup
.75 oz Lemon Juice
Garnish: Fresh Basil
Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, add ice, and shake vigorously for 5-10 seconds, or until chilled. Pour entire contents of shaker (including ice) into a chilled rocks glass. Garnish with fresh basil.
Basil Simple Syrup: Bring 1 cup of water to a boil and mix in 1 cup of sugar, stirring until fully dissolved. Turn off heat and mix in 1 cup of fresh basil (not dried!). Let stand for 15minutes before straining out solids. Blend this simple syrup with additional fresh basil leaves after you’ve let it cool to get an added kick of fresh herbs.
Late Harvest
Just in time for fall, this refreshing seasonal cocktail pairs Concord Grape juice with lime and our own apple-based gin. A perfect pairing for that late harvest wine crush!
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Highside Gin
.5 oz Concord Grape Juice
.25 oz Lime Juice
.25 oz Simple Syrup
Soda Water
Garnish: Skewered Grapes
Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, add ice, and shake vigorously for 5-10 seconds, or until chilled. Strain and top with a splash of soda water. Garnish with your favorite grapes.
Rosemary Blood Orange collins
Just in time for the holidays, this tasty sipper is a crowd pleaser with fresh-squeezed Blood Orange juice and a rosemary simple syrup. Not a bad pairing if you ask me.
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Highside Gin
.75 oz Blood Orange Juice
.25 oz Lemon Juice
.5 oz Rosemary Simple Syrup (see below)
Soda Water
Garnish: Fresh Rosemary Sprig
Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, add ice, and shake vigorously for 5-10 seconds, or until chilled. Strain and pour contents over fresh ice in a Collins glass.. Top with soda. Garnish with fresh rosemary.
Rosemary Simple Syrup: Bring 1 cup of water to a boil and mix in 1 cup of sugar, stirring until fully dissolved. Turn off heat and mix in 4-5 sprigs of fresh rosemary. Let stand for 30 minutes before straining out solids. Pour into a storage glass with a single sprig of rosemary.
Plum negroni
Another riff on the classic Negroni with our Gin and Aperitivo style Amaro Rosina. In place of the traditional sweet vermouth, we sub in a reduced plum syrup for a rich fruity sweetness, complementing the drying bitterness of the Rosina. It's a classic for a reason!
Ingredients:
1 oz Highside Gin
1 oz Highside Amaro Rosina
.5 oz Plum Syrup
Garnish: Orange Peel
Mix all ingredients, add ice, and stir for 10 seconds, or until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass and garnish with a thick slice of orange peel.
Plum Syrup: Bring 1 cup of plum juice to a boil (uncovered) and let reduce to half the original volume - a truly SIMPLE syrup!
tropical bee’s knees
A bright, citrus-forward cocktail (or mocktail sans booze!) made with fresh lemon juice and honey. And a tropical twist with the addition of pineapple juice. The perfect summertime sipper!
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Gin (or Filtered Water if doing the mocktail)
.5 oz Lemon Juice
.5 oz Honey Simple Syrup (1:1 honey to water ratio)
1 oz Pineapple Juice
Soda Water
Garnish: Lemon Peel
Mix the water, lemon juice, pineapple juice, and honey simple syrup in a cocktail shaker, add ice, and shake vigorously for 5-10 seconds, or until chilled. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice, top with soda, and garnish with a lemon peel.
Blueberry-thyme Fizz v2.0
A true fizz recipe with loads of foam, courtesy of the fresh egg white and topping of soda water. This is a riff on our original Blueberry Thyme Fizz v1.0 above.
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Highside Gin
.5 oz Blueberry-Thyme Shrub (see below)
.25 oz Lemon Juice
1 whole egg white (or 1 oz aquafaba if going vegan!)
Soda water to top
Garnish: Skewered blueberries and edible flower
Mix the gin, shrub, lemon juice, and egg white in a cocktail shaker (without ice!) and dry shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Next, add ice, and shake again for 5-10 seconds, or until chilled. Strain into a tall collins glass, top with soda water, and garnish with a skewer of fresh blueberries and an edible flower.
Blueberry-Thyme Shrub: Bring 1 cup water to boil with 1 cup sugar, 1 cup blueberries, and 1 bunch of fresh thyme. Stir and let simmer for 10-15mins. Once finished, stir in 3/4 cup of red wine vinegar. Strain and let cool before storing in the refrigerator. Tip: If you aren’t a huge fan of vinegar, dial down the addition to 1/2 or 1/3 cup.
Harvest Gin Old Fashioned
A spirit-forward Old Fashioned riff with the first batch of our seasonal Harvest Gin. This particular batch was aged in a Petit Syrah wine barrel for 15months before being infused with locally-foraged Aronia berries. Heavy on the winter spice and a perfect Fall/Winter sipper!
Ingredients:
2 oz Highside Harvest Gin
.25 - .5 oz Demerara Simple (1:1 sugar to water ratio - depends on how sweet you want it!)
4 dashes Angostura Bitters
Garnish: Dehydrated Orange Wheel
Mix all ingredients in a mixing glass, add ice, and stir for 10 seconds, or until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass and garnish with a dehydrated orange wheel.
French 75
A classic gin + bubbly cocktail with our seasonal Harvest Gin. Perfect for ringing in the New Year or any other necessary celebration!
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Highside Harvest Gin
.5 oz Simple Syrup (1:1 sugar to water ratio)
.5 oz Lemon Juice
2-3 oz Sparkling Wine
Garnish: Lemon Twist
Mix all ingredients (less bubbly) in a cocktail shaker, add ice, and shake for 10 seconds, or until chilled. Strain into a chilled champagne flute, top with sparkling wine, and garnish with a lemon twist.
Harvest Gin hot toddy
Try out our seasonal Harvest Gin in place of whiskey in this traditional winter warmer!
Ingredients:
2 oz Highside Harvest Gin
.5 oz Winter Spice Syrup (see below)
.25 oz Lemon Juice
4-6 oz Hot Water
Garnish: Lemon Twist and Star Anise Pod
Add Gin, Syrup, and Lemon Juice to a pre-warmed coffee mug and give a gentle stir. Top remainder of mug with hot water and garnish with lemon twist and star anise.
Winter Spice Syrup: Bring ½ cup water to boil with ½ cup honey, stirring until fully dissolved. Reduce heat, add 10-12 whole cloves and 1 star anise pod, and let simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, let cool, then strain solution to remove solids. Store in the refrigerator.
Matcha-Infused Gin Sour
Released just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, this green cocktail uses ground Matcha powder and heavy dose of lemon for a bright, citrus-forward cocktail with a green tea finish!
Ingredients:
2 oz Highside Harvest Gin
.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
.5 oz Simple Syrup (1:1)
1/2 tsp ground Matcha powder
1 egg white (roughly 1 oz)
Garnish: Fresh sage leaf
Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker (without ice!) and dry shake vigorously for 15-20seconds. Then add ice and shake again to chill for 10 seconds. Strain into your favorite glass and garnish with fresh sage.
Maple Old Fashioned
Another spirit-forward Old Fashioned riff perfect for Fall weather and made with our Barrel-Aged Gin.
Ingredients:
2 oz Highside Harvest Gin
.25 Maple Syrup
2-3 dashes Black Walnut Bitters
Garnish: Orange Peel
Mix all ingredients in a mixing glass, add ice, and stir for 10 seconds, or until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass and garnish with a dehydrated orange wheel.
Smoked Cherry Old Fashioned
Yes ANOTHER Old Fashioned riff, this time with the 2021 edition of our Harvest Gin. This batch of Harvest Gin was rested in an ex-Tequila barrel before being infused with smoked Washington Cherries! Doubling down on the Mezcal/Tequila influence, this is made similar to a Oaxacan Old Fashioned - cheers!
Ingredients:
2 oz Highside Harvest Gin
.25 Agave Syrup
2 healthy dashes Angostura Bitters
Garnish: Orange slice and served in a smoked rocks glass!
Mix all ingredients in a mixing glass, add ice, and stir for 10 seconds, or until chilled. Strain into a smoked rocks glass and garnish with a dehydrated orange wheel. To smoked the glass, we recommend igniting a few cherry wood smoking chips on a cedar plank and resting the rocks glass over the chips to infuse the glass with smoke for 2-3 minutes.
Breakfast Punch
Made with our 2021 Harvest Gin and designed to be paired with your favorite breakfast treats (hence the cherry preserves)!
Ingredients:
2 oz Highside Harvest Gin
.5 oz Lemon Juice
.25 oz Demerara Syrup
1 heaping bar spoon of cherry preserves
Garnish: Lemon twist and a piece of toast
Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, add ice, and shake for a good 10-15 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass filled with crushed ice and garnish with a lemon peel (plus breakfast).
Barrel aged Gin old fashioned
Made with our 2022 Barrel Aged Gin, a cocktail that blurs the line between whiskey and gin!
Ingredients:
2 oz Highside Harvest Gin
.25 oz Lemongrass simple syrup (or regular simple)
1 shake Angostura bitters
Garnish: Orange peel + maraschino cherry
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass. Stir and strain over a large ice cube. Garnish with an orange swath and cherry.
Lemongrass Syrup: Bring 1 cup water to boil with 1 cup sugar, stirring until fully dissolved. Reduce heat, add 1/2 cup of fresh mashed lemongrass and let simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, let cool, then strain solution to remove solids. Store in the refrigerator.