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Cocktail History
The Evergreen Sparkler is a holiday cocktail that was created by food writer and author Jessica Strand and was first published in her book Very Merry Cocktails: 50+ Festive Drinks for the Holiday Season. The recipe is a wintry twist on the classic Tom Collins that blends gin, lemon juice, and soda water with an aromatic herbal syrup, creating a refreshing base that elevates its evergreen inspiration by incorporating pine syrup and tree-inspired bitters alongside a sprig of rosemary. The result is a drink that captures the essence of a snowy forest and offers a sophisticated yet approachable drink that’s perfect for holiday celebrations.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Club Soda: This is a carbonated water that’s been infused with minerals to give it a salty flavor. I used Polar Premium Club Soda.
Gin: This is a spirit made with juniper berries, botanicals, alcohol, and water. I used Bombay Sapphire Gin.
Pine Syrup: This is a sweetener made with pine tea, white sugar, and water. I used this stovetop recipe.
Lemon Juice: This is the tart, acidic liquid extracted from the flesh of lemons. I used fresh lemon juice.
Spruce & Birch Bitters: This is a food product made with spruce, birch, botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. I used Crude Bitters & Sodas “Apothecary” Spruce & Birch Bitters.
Rosemary: This is an aromatic evergreen herb with needle-like leaves and a robust, piney, and slightly peppery flavor.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface to catch spills, provide grip for glasses and tools, and keep the workspace clean and organized. I used the Highball & Chaser 18×12 Bar Mat.
Jigger: This is a small, double-sided measuring tool that’s used to accurately portion spirits and mixers, typically with one side measuring 1 oz and the other 1.5 or 2 oz. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker consisting of a metal tin and a glass or metal mixing glass that’s used for shaking and blending ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is a metal strainer with a spring around its edge that’s used to filter out ice and solids when pouring the cocktail into a glass. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is a small, sharp kitchen knife with a narrow blade that’s used for peeling, trimming, and garnishing. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is a handheld tool that’s used to extract juice from fruits by pressing or twisting it against a reamer or cone. I used the Black+Decker 32 oz Electric Citrus Juicer.
Highball Glass: This is a tall, slim glass that’s used for mixed drinks with a larger proportion of non-alcoholic mixers. I used the Riedel Drink Specific Highball Glass.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2025-02-09.

Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Effervescent clear color
• Aroma: Punchy rosemary and citrus
• Taste: Strong juniper and earthy botanical flavor balanced by sweet and sour notes
• Finish: Evergreen herbs
Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Kendall’s Take: “From the name, I was expecting this to be a sparkling wine cocktail but was pleasantly surprised to see it was a refreshing Tom Collins variation instead. I think at this point I would be pretty bored by the classic’s lack of complexity, so the woodsy syrup and bitters were a welcome addition. They gave this light and airy drink some depth. Overall, the Wintergreen Sparkler was very tasty and would likely be a hit at a holiday party; the only reason I’m rating it three stars is because I probably won’t make it again… unless I have a craving for earthy tree flavors.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from Very Merry Cocktails: 50+ Festive Drinks for the Holiday Season by Jessica Strand.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2025-02-09.
Evergreen Sparkler
The Evergreen Sparkler is a holiday cocktail that was created by food writer and author Jessica Strand and was first published in her book Very Merry Cocktails: 50+ Festive Drinks for the Holiday Season. It's a simple winter-inspired variation of the Tom Collins templates that pairs the classic's combination of gin, lemon, and carbonated water with an herbal syrup. For this version, however, the evergreen flavors are taken in a different direction by using pine syrup and tree-flavored bitters in addition to rosemary.

Ingredients
Method
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Add gin, pine syrup, lemon juice, bitters, and cubed ice to a shaker.
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Shake for 10-20 seconds.
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Strain into a highball glass filled with fresh cracked ice.
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Top with club soda.
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Garnish with rosemary sprig.