Gin and Tonic with Pine Needle Syrup is the most refreshing way to kick off the holiday season! Simple syrup made from pine needles adds a festive touch to this classic cocktail.

What is Pine Needle Syrup?

If you’ve ever wandered through an evergreen forest after a rain and thought “I’d love to bottle that smell!” then you will love pine needle syrup! It tastes like a fresh pine tree on Christmas morning! The pure pine flavor is the perfect simple syrup for mixing into a refreshing gin and tonic.

Making pine syrup is surprisingly simple. It’s comprised of equal parts pine needles, sugar, and water. Just like my Lavender Simple Syrup, these ingredients are simmered for a brief time, cooled, and then strained. That’s it!

Simple Equipment You’ll Need

While you don’t need any fancy equipment, the right drinking glass and measuring tool are helpful when building your festive cocktail.

A jigger for measuring liquids (or a ¼ cup / 120 ml measuring cup)
Large gin balloon (20–25 oz capacity)

Ingredients for Gin and Tonic with Pine Needle Syrup

You’ll find the complete ingredient list with measurements and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Ingredients for pine needle gin and tonic.

London Dry Gin- There are many brands to choose from. I used Tanqueray in this recipe.

Tonic water- with 2 parts tonic water to 1 part gin, you will really taste the tonic. So, go with a reputable brand like Fever Tree.

Pine needle syrup- for a wonderful pine flavor that is lightly sweet. Please don’t be tempted to skip this ingredient!

Freshly squeezed lime juice– Squeeze that baby right over the glass! This captures all the juice plus the essential oils of the rind. Plus it makes your drink smell a-ma-zing.

Ice cubes- You will need enough ice to fill your glass almost to the top! I made pine ice cubes by freezing pine tips in ice cube tray cells. You can also use a pine ice sphere if you like.

How to Make This Recipe (with photos)

When you’re ready to make this recipe, scroll down to the recipe card at the end of this post. You’ll find the complete ingredient list with measurements there.

How to Make Pine Needle Syrup

Makes 1 cup

Fresh pine needles in a pot for simple syrup.

Simmering pine needles in sugar water on the stovetop.

1. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add the water, sugar, pine needles, and salt. Stir to combine.

Straining pine needle syrup into a glass jar.

2. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Simmer for 5 minutes, adjusting the heat as needed to keep the syrup from rapidly boiling. The needles will turn from bright green to dark olive and that’s okay.

3. Slide the pan off the heat. Let the pine needles infuse in the syrup for 1 hour or longer until completely cool. Pour the syrup through a fine mesh strainer to separate the needles. The color will be slightly chartreuse which is totally normal.

4. Transfer to a lidded glass container and store in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.

How to Make Gin and Tonic

Makes 1 large glass

Building a gin and tonic in a gin balloon.

1. Fill a large gin ballon glass with ice cubes (not crushed ice which will melt quickly)

2. Pour the gin over the ice cubes followed by the tonic water and the pine needle syrup.

3. Squeeze half a lime directly over the top to release both the juice and essential oils into the drink.

4. Stir gently so you don’t lose carbonation.

5. Garnish with lime slices and serve immediately. (I made pine ice cubes by freezing pine tips in ice cube tray cells. You can also use a pine ice sphere if you like.)

Helpful Tips

Harvest younger needles, for the best pine flavor. These are the end tips of the branches. The needles will be soft and flexible and easy to collect in small bunches.
To remove the needles, hold the twig at one end. Then use your other hand to pinch the twig while pulling against the growth up the length of the branch. The needles will pop off as you go.
Add lots of ice to your glass. Ice in a well-chilled cocktail will melt much more slowly than a few cubes floating on the top.
Build your gin and tonic directly in the glass. Pour each of the ingredients directly over the ice and stir gently. This classic method keeps the ice from melting and preserves carbonation.

Carol holding a gin and tonic by a window.

FAQs

What species of pine trees are best?

There are many species of pine trees, and they will vary depending on your geographical location. Feel free to use any evergreen needle in the Pinaceae family. This includes pine, fir, cedar, and spruce trees.

Fir trees – They grow right in my backyard and what I love to harvest! Fir trees have the greenest needles on the top and are a lighter green underneath.
Eastern White Pine – A common species in North America.
Noble Fir – Often grown for Christmas trees, it has a nice citrus-like flavor.
Douglas Fir- While not technically a pine tree, they have a lovely lemony flavor.
Scots Pine – Widely used in Europe for its strong fresh flavor in pine needle tea and syrups.

Avoid Yew which is toxic. (Speaking from experience here! I foraged for pine needles in the English Countryside and accidentally harvested toxic Yew by mistake!)

What type of gin should I use?

Use London Dry Gin in this recipe.

Despite the name, London Dry Gin doesn’t have to be made in London or even in the UK. It is a style of gin that is defined by its production method instead. Here are the key characteristics:

It is distilled from a neutral grain-based alcohol like wheat or barley.
It must be redistilled with juniper berries and other natural botanicals.
It contains no artificial flavorings, colorings, or sweeteners. Its juniper-forward flavor is clean and refreshing. Perfect for gin and tonic and all sorts of winter cocktails!

What glass is best for gin and tonic?

The type of glass you sip your cocktail from does enhance the experience. There is no need for a chilled glass thanks to generous amounts of ice! Here’s what I recommend:

Large Gin balloon / Copa de Balon glass - This type of glass is known for its large rounded bowl. It provides plenty of room for ice and aromatic garnishes.
Highball glass – This is a tall straight glass perfect for drinks served with ice and mixers like tonic water.
Large wine glass – If you don’t have a gin balloon or highball glass, a large wine glass will do the trick!

Are gin and tonic shaken or stirred?

Always stirred, not shaken - This preserves the carbonation of the tonic water and prevents the ice from quickly melting.

Is gin and tonic strong?

This light refreshing cocktail is moderately strong. Gin has an alcohol content of about 40% ABV (alcohol by volume). The tonic and pine syrup dilute the gin making it less potent compared to drinking straight gin or other spirit-forward cocktails.

Gin and tonic with pine needle syrup in a gin balloon.

What to Pair with Gin and Tonic

Like so many things, gin and tonic pairs well with chocolate. I highly recommend serving them with Vegan Chocolate Ganache Tart!

A charcuterie board loaded with vegan cheese, nuts, berries, citrus fruits, and olives balances crisp gin. (I have a wow-worthy white cheddar cheese pots recipe in my Vegan Holiday e-Cookbook! Plus many more wonderful recipes.)

Spicy dishes like Tomato Chickpea Curry and salty snacks like Oven Roasted Pumpkin Seeds offer a great contrast to the cooling citrus notes of the gin.

I hope you have as much fun with this delicious little number as I have. I’ll be toasting you sip by sip all season long!

Cheers dear reader!

X,o,

Gin and Tonic with Pine Needle Syrup