For my cocktail recipes, I have two requirements:

Is it super easy to make?
Can I get everything I need at Trader Joe’s?

If the answer to both questions is ‘yes,’ we have a winner. One of my favorite cocktails year-round is a French 75. I’m a gin girl, but if you’re not, the Champagne adds just the right amount of bubbles and sweetness. So when I tried to think of a festive twist, I immediately thought of cranberry and rosemary. I mean, it practically screams “Christmas!”

ingredients

2 ounces dry gin (I prefer Hendrick’s)
2 ounces Champagne
1 cup sugar
4 sprigs of rosemary
1 ounce fresh lemon juice
1 bottle of Trader Joe’s sparkling cranberry juice

recipe

Combine sugar, rosemary sprigs and one cup of water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Remove saucepan from heat and let cool. Remove the rosemary sprigs and pour syrup into a container to store.
In a cocktail shaker, combine 2 ounces of gin, 1 ounce of lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon of rosemary syrup. Fill with ice and shake, shake, shake.
Pour into a glass and top with 2 ounces of cranberry juice and 2 ounces of Champagne.
Garnish with a rosemary sprig or fresh cranberries.