Yuletide Limonada (Batch Gin Winter Cocktail)
A frothy, citrusy gin winter cocktail that feels festive and refreshing? Look no further than my Yuletide Limonada. Made with gin, blood orange, lime, and condensed milk, this creamy holiday cocktail is inspired by a traditional limonada or Brazilian lemonade.
If you love holiday cocktails, you’ll also want to try my Cranberry Moscow Mule and my Cosmo in the Snow.
I partnered with Waterloo Gin to mix up the Yuletide Limonada recipe! Recipe and ideas are my own.
This Yuletide Limonada is bright, creamy, and incredibly easy to make for a group. It comes together in just 10 minutes and makes 5 servings. The juniper notes from the Waterloo Gin act as the perfect base for the drink. The bright citrus of the blood orange and lime shines through and the condensed milk adds creamy sweetness with every sip. Ideal for Christmas morning brunch, holiday gatherings, or even a lively New Year’s Eve party, this gin winter cocktail will be a fan favorite all winter long!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfect gin winter cocktail: Bright citrus, creamy sweetness, and botanical gin make this drink refreshing and cozy for cold weather.
- Batch-friendly: This recipe makes 5 servings at once and is easy to scale for Christmas brunch, parties, or New Year’s Eve.
- Cute and festive: The rosemary citrus sugar rim, pomegranate seeds, and fresh herbs make this a show-stopping holiday drink.
- Customizable: Easily make it dairy-free or alcohol-free without losing flavor.
Recipe Ingredients
See the recipe card for quantities.
- Gin: Pick a high quality gin. For this recipe I used a staple in my house, Waterloo Gin.
- Sweetened condensed milk: You can find this in a can at most grocery stores.
- Blood orange: Choose ones that have some give when you touch them and have a fragrant orange smell.
- Lime: Choose bright green limes that have some give when you touch them.
- Water: I recommend using bottled or filtered water if possible.
- Sugar, minced rosemary, citrus zest: Use for the rim as desired. Make sure to use fresh rosemary sprigs and zest from a washed lime.
- Pomegranate seeds and rosemary: Use for garnish as desired. You can purchase already shelled pomegranate seeds or seed a fresh pomegranate on your own. Use fresh sprigs of rosemary.
Tools & Equipment List
Check out my favorite glasses here!
How to Make This Recipe
Step 1: Thoroughly wash limes and the blood orange. Cut off the ends and cut into wedges.
Step 2: To a blender – Add limes, blood orange and water. Blend for 10 seconds. Strain out solids and return the liquid to the blender.
Step 3: Add gin, condensed milk and ice and blend until smooth.
Step 4: Prepare cocktail glasses – Add sugar, minced rosemary and citrus zest to a shallow dish. Moisten the rim of the glasses with lime juice or honey. Dip each glass into the mixture until the rim is coated.
Step 5: Fill prepared glasses with ice. Divide mixture into the glasses. If desired, garnish with blood orange slices, pomegranate seeds and rosemary.
Watch How to Make this Recipe
Tips for Making a Yuletide Limonada
- Thoroughly wash the limes and blood orange as you will be blending with the skin on and using the skin for zesting.
- The longer you blend the mixture, the more bitter it will be.10 seconds on the original blend works perfectly, you’ll strain any remaining solids.
- For a non-dairy version of the Yuletide Limonada, use coconut condensed milk instead.
- Mocktail version: Just leave out the gin!
Frequently Asked Questions
The main difference is a Brazilian Limonada is typically creamy, with the addition of the sweetened condensed milk. Mexican limonadas are typically just the lime juice, sugar, and water. Sometimes a Mexican limonada will use lemon instead of lime.
Yes, you can make the Yuletide Limonada ahead of time. Follow the instructions above and store in a refrigerator for a few hours ahead of time.
Yes, you can make a Yuletide Limonada a mocktail. All you need to do is remove the gin and you have a traditional limonada for all ages.
More Holiday Cocktails to Try
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Yuletide Limonada (Batch Gin Winter Cocktail)
Ingredients
- 2 limes
- 1 blood orange, plus more for garnish
- 3 cups water
- 6 oz Waterloo No. 9 Gin
- 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup ice
- Sugar, minced rosemary and citrus zest, for rim
- Pomegranate seeds and rosemary, for garnish
Instructions
- Wash limes and blood orange. Cut off the ends and cut into wedges.
- To a blender – add limes, blood orange and water. Blend for 10 seconds. Strain out solids and return the liquid to the blender.
- Add gin, condensed milk and ice and blend until smooth.
- Prepare cocktail glasses – Add sugar, minced rosemary and citrus zest to a shallow dish. Moisten the rim of the glasses with lime juice or honey. Dip each glass into the mixture until the rim is coated.
- Fill prepared glasses with ice. Divide mixture into the glasses. If desired, garnish with blood orange slices, pomegranate seeds and rosemary.
Notes
- This drink is based on Brazilian Lemonade
- The quick blend of the citrus with peel will ensure that the mixture isn’t too bitter. If you blend longer, the mixture will be more bitter.
