Cheerwine is a North Carolina tradition and one of the many products that was born in NC. Every year around the holidays, Cheerwine releases a limited edition batch of their Cheerwine Holiday Punch – and if you haven’t tried it yet, I know your first question will be, what does it taste like?
This seasonal soda is made by taking classic Cheerwine and adding pineapple juice and ginger ale. So it’s pretty sweet with a cherry and pineapple vibe to it. It’s great on it’s own but also serves as a mixer for cocktails!
For the choice of liquor inside the drink, I chose a local gin – Durham Distillery. Their Conniption Gin is great and definitely hides in such an already flavorful cocktail. If you don’t like gin, my alternate suggestion would be bourbon.
First, I start by filling a cocktail shaker with 2 ounces of Gin, 1 ounce of raw egg white, a few pieces of fresh cut pineapple, ice, and a dash of cinnamon. I shake this for about 2 minutes so some of the juice from the pineapple mixes in with the cocktail base and the egg white gets frothy. Here’s what it should look like when you pour it out into the bottom of your cocktail glass:
After that, I just top it off with the Cheerwine Holiday Punch as much as I’d like. Then I add fresh rosemary for garnish and a slice of pineapple on the rim!
To me, this drink screams festive and it’s perfect for impressing your friends. I’ve always loved cocktails with egg whites because it adds a richness to the cocktail and looks really cool. Don’t be afraid of it!
Below is the official recipe. Next time you stop into the grocery store, grab a 2 liter of the Cheerwine Holiday Punch! It’s great on it’s own and in this cocktail.
Gin & Tidings Cheerwine Cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 oz Gin
- 1 oz Egg White
- 2-3 pieces fresh pineapple
- 5 cubes ice
- dash ground cinnamon
- 1/2-3/4 cup Cheerwine Holiday Punch
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add gin, egg white, pineapple, ice, and cinnamon. Shake for 2 minutes then pour into a chilled cocktail glass
- Top off with about 1/2 cup – 3/4 cup of Cheerwine Holiday Punch. Add ice if desired. Garnish with fresh rosemary and an additional slice of pineapple. Serve immediately.
