Cara Cara Gin Cocktail with Rosemary Simple Syrup

Cara cara gin cocktail with rosemary simple syrup is a refreshing, bright combination for a cocktail. Cara cara oranges are less acidic than similarly hued blood oranges and a little sweeter. This citrus and rosemary laced beverage is perfect for lifting the winter blues, gin has natural herbal undertones, that work well with the rosemary simple syrup.

Rosemary Simple Syrup

Making your own homemade rosemary simple syrup for cocktails is easy, and this recipe provides enough for other uses as well. This herbal rosemary simple syrup works well in other drinks, teas, and sparkling water

Mix 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar and simmer over medium-high heat until all sugar is dissolved.

Remove from heat and add 1 sprig of fresh rosemary herb (don’t substitute dried rosemary for this recipe).

Let cool and store in a glass bottle until ready to use.

Cara Cara Gin Cocktail

The ingredients for this winter gin cocktail with rosemary are few, but this recipe is full of bright flavor.

Gin

Dry vermouth

Rosemary simple syrup

Cara cara juice

Sparkling water

Variations

Swap out gin and use vodka for this recipe instead, if you are not especially into gin spirits.

If you do not have cara cara oranges on hand, you can always use another citrus fruit, another variety of orange or lemon will work well here. Because of the bitter undertones of rosemary; I would stay away from substituting limes for this recipe.

Leave the vermouth and gin out and make this a mocktail. The cara cara and rosemary still work well together. Add cara cara juice and rosemary into a ice cube filled glass and top off with sparkling water. The non-alcoholic version of this fresh rosemary cocktail is just as full of citrus and herb notes.

Another herb forward recipe featuring a Cilantro and Lemongrass Simple Syrup