Jam, it's what's in your cocktail. No, seriously. And not just for brunch cocktails, either. For dinner cocktails, happy hour cocktails, dessert cocktails, and every cocktail occasion in between. Grab some fruity jam, dust off your gin, and get shaking. It's time to rock out with the sound a cocktail shaker to your new favorite song: gin and jam.
Gin and Jam Cocktail
Are you in a jam, trying to decide on a gin cocktail that's a little different but doesn't require a trip to the store? I think you can guess the solution.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- ¾ tablespoon fruit jam
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon OR lime juice
- Ice
- Tonic water or club soda to top off
- Raspberry and lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, jam, and citrus juice.
- Shake vigorously to fully dissolve jam and chill.
- Strain into a rocks or highball glass filled with crushed ice.
- Top off with tonic water or club soda.
- Garnish with a raspberry and lime wheel.
Sparkling Gin and Jam
Bust out the summery and sweet blueberry jam for a cocktail that'll taste like a cool Thursday afternoon in August. Of course, you can add more jam if you're feeling it. Not a martini glass kinda person? Go ahead and serve this over fresh ice, with or without prosecco.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- ½ tablespoon blueberry jam
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- 1 ounce prosecco to top off
- Lime wheel for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, blueberry jam, and lemon juice.
- Shake vigorously until the jam dissolves.
- Double strain into the chilled glass.
- Add prosecco.
- Garnish with a lime wheel, if desired.
Jammin' for a Bramble
Blackberry liquor is the traditional way to whip up a bramble, but using blackberry jam instead? Oh, it is life-changing.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¾ tablespoon blackberry jam
- Ice
- Lemon ribbon for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, lemon juice, and blackberry jam.
- Shake vigorously to mix all ingredients and dissolve the jam.
- Strain into a rocks glass over a king cube.
- Garnish with a lemon ribbon.
By Plum!
You may need to search a little extra, but this is one cocktail where the ingredients plum together seamlessly. You'll soon be texting your friends, "plum away with me!"
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- 1 tablespoon plum jam
- 2 ounces tart cherry juice
- Ice
- Berry club soda to top off
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, plum jam, and tart cherry juice.
- Shake well to chill and dissolve ingredients.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with berry club soda.
- Garnish with a mint sprig.
An Orange Jam Walks Into a Gin Bar
A richer twist on the usual orange blossom cocktail, which follows the same formula as a negroni but uses orange juice instead of Campari, this uses orange preserves instead of orange juice. It's a riff on a riff on a riff that's certain to become your jam.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce gin
- ¾ tablespoon orange jam or preserves
- ¾ ounce orange liqueur
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Orange wheel for garnish, optional
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, orange jam, orange liqueur, and lemon juice.
- Shake vigorously to dissolve jam and mix with other ingredients.
- Strain into a rocks glass over a king cube.
- Garnish with an orange wheel if desired.
Stony Negroni
You'll find no rocks in this gin negroni with jam, just stone fruits. Everyone knows a cherry is just a mini-stone fruit.
Although, if we do say so ourselves, this is also delicious with fig, strawberry, orange, or grape jams.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces gin
- 1½ ounces Campari
- 1½ ounces sweet vermouth
- 1 tablespoon cherry, nectarine, or plum jam
- Ice
- Rosemary sprig and orange wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, and jam.
- Shake vigorously until the jam totally dissolves.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with a rosemary sprig and orange wheel.
Gin and Jam Martini
So, you like to live the fancy life. (Taurus, is that you?) Enjoy the sweeter side of gin and jam as a highbrow martini. Feeling particularly fancy or want to enjoy this with brunch? Garnish with a doughnut hole pierced on a cocktail skewer. Um, yes, please.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- 1 tablespoon fruit jam
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Basil leaf or citrus twist for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, fruit jam, and lemon juice.
- Shake vigorously to dissolve jam and chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with a basil leaf or citrus twist.
Jam Flavors for Gin and Jam Cocktails
You can't go wrong with too many jam or preserve flavors when you're mixing with gin. If you're wondering where to start, these will get the juices flowing.
- Apple
- Apricot
- Strawberry
- Grape
- Blackberry
- Cranberry
- Lemon
- Orange
- Mixed berry
- Raspberry
- Mandarin
- Pear
- Mint
- Pomegranate
- Blueberry
- Strawberry rhubarb
Go bigger and bolder on the flavors by using an infused gin with your jam.
Sippin' on Gin and Jam
There's no ifs, ands, or jams about it, gin and jam cocktails are the upgrade gin not only needs but wants. Are you ready to punch a one-way ticket to Happy Tastebud Town? Grab a jar, it's time to jam!
