Combine the water and sugar in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and stir to dissolve the sugar.
Add the cranberries and simmer for 10 minutes - or until the cranberries pop. Remove from heat, cool and strain. [Yields 1 1/4 cups. Keeps 3 weeks in the refrigerator.]
Cocktail
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the gin, lemon juice and cranberry syrup. Shake vigourously until there is frost on the outside of the cocktail shaker. Strain into a champagne flute. Top with champagne.
Garnish with a lemon twist, sugared cranberries and a rosemary, if desired. .
RECIPE TIPS
Cranberry syrup alternative: 1 cup cranberry juice and 2 cups of granulated sugar.
This recipe makes one cocktail. If you are serving guests, you can mix up the gin, lemon, and cranberry syrup mixture in advance. Just pre-mix it and throw it in the fridge. Top with cold champagne just before serving.
There is no need to open the fancy champagne when you are using it in a cocktail. Save the expensive stuff for appreciating on its own!