Barsys
The Winter Sunset
About
The Winter Sunset is a vibrant, fruit-forward highball that captures the colors and flavors of a perfect cold-season evening. Inspired by the warm hues of winter skies, this cocktail blends Sipsmith London Dry Gin with tart cranberry juice, mellow orange juice, and a touch of sugar syrup to create a beautifully layered flavor profile. The botanical dryness of the gin anchors the sweetness of the fruit, while the cranberry adds a refreshing pop of brightness that keeps the drink from ever becoming heavy.
Once topped with crisp club soda, The Winter Sunset transforms into a bubbly, easy-drinking cocktail that works for both festive gatherings and slow winter nights at home. The garnish - a skewered orange peel with a cocktail cherry - adds color, aroma, and a little celebratory flair. Light, lively, and balanced, this is the kind of cocktail you can sip all evening as the season winds down.
Shaken or Stirred? Neither - this one is built directly in the glass to preserve its clarity and sparkle.
What You'll Need
- 1.5 oz Sipsmith London Dry Gin
- 1 oz Cranberry Juice
- 1 oz Orange Juice
- 0.5 oz Sugar Syrup
- Club Soda (Top-up)
Optional Garnish: Skewered orange peel + cocktail cherry
Pro Tip: Use clear, cold club soda - warm or flat soda kills the sparkle instantly.
How to Make It
Prep Time: 1 minute
Skill Level: Effortless
- Fill a highball glass with ice.
- Build gin, cranberry, orange, and sugar syrup directly over the ice.
- Top with club soda.
- Gently stir to combine.
- Garnish with a skewered orange peel and cocktail cherry.
Using Barsys Cocktail Machine?
Barsys 360 Cocktail Machine is ideal for build-in-glass cocktails like The Winter Sunset. Load your gin, cranberry, orange, and syrup into the machine, and let Barsys dispense a perfectly balanced base over fresh ice. All you need to do is add the club soda and garnish. Quick, consistent, and perfect for serving a crowd without slowing down.
For the full recipe, download the Barsys App.
Tasting Notes
The Barsys Edge
The Winter Sunset relies on clean ratios - too much cranberry turns it overly tart, too much orange makes it flat, and too much syrup weighs down the bubbly finish. Barsys 360 ensures every component lands in the exact proportion, giving you a consistently bright and sparkling cocktail, glass after glass.
Sip Setting
Made for cozy winter evenings, festive get-togethers, late-afternoon sunsets, and any moment that calls for something refreshing but still seasonal and warm in spirit.
Garnish Game
A skewered orange peel and cherry are classic, but you can elevate it with a dehydrated orange wheel, a sugared cranberry, or even a sprig of smoked rosemary for an aromatic winter twist.
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FAQs
Can I use sweetened cranberry juice?
You can - just reduce the sugar syrup.
Can I make it more tart?
Add an extra splash of cranberry or a squeeze of fresh lemon.
Can I batch this for parties?
Yes - combine gin, cranberry, orange, and syrup. Add soda per glass.
Can I use tonic instead of soda?
It works, but the drink becomes slightly bitter and less fruity.
Highball or rocks glass?
Highball keeps the bubbles strong and the layers vibrant.