Christmas Cheer! - Low Cal, Perfect Party Drinks From Martin Miller's Gin

The average person gains 5lbs over Christmas - enough to make your clothes too tight or tip you into the next size up. Alcoholic drinks can be a sneaky source of calories, sugar, and even salt — but Martin Miller's Gin has got the answer this year with two perfect low calorie festive drinks to be enjoyed without piling on the pounds.

Mulled wine is fine, but if you're looking for something a bit different this Christmas, gin is in. Martin Miller's has created its Merry Mulled Wine - the perfect warming tipple to welcome guests at only 65 calories a glass. With The Great Gatsby, Downton and Mad Men fuelling the premium gin revival, the mixologist's favourite gin has created the spin on the traditional mulled wine recipe and it's guaranteed to go down a storm with discerning juniper-loving drinkers and those watching their waistline.

Martin Miller's Merry Mulled Gin

50ml Martin Miller's Gin

100ml Apple Juice,

2tbsp of honey,

Equal parts of Cassia, Cinnamon, Cloves,

Star Anise, Ginger,

Pinch of chilli flakes.

Heat all ingredients gently on the hob and let those aromas escape. Strain into vessel and serve with an orange zest and a cinnamon stick.

On the cooler side, try a classic, zingy G&T in place of sparkling wines.  At only 53 calories per serving, it will get you in the party spirit without getting you into hot water the next time you hop on the scales.  Here's some top tips for preparing Martin Miller's Perfect Serve Christmas G&T.

COLD: It is most important to use all the ingredients as cold as possible - both the gin and lots of large ice cubes straight from the freezer

THE GLASS: The best type of glass is a large balloon style.  Perfect for holding the glass without warming the contents and for displaying the beautiful citrus and botanical aromas

GARNISH: Use a long twist of lime peel.  Lime is the floral pairing for Martin Miller's, not lemon.  Don't use the pulp of the lime either as this destroys the bubbles!  Then drop into the glass 3 or 4 juniper berries

BUBBLES: It's the bubbles that bring out the nuances in Martin Miller's gin, so be sure to keep as much fizz in the tonic as possible and we recommend Fever Tree Slimline Tonic water

BE PATIENT! Wait 30 seconds while all the ingredients mix and marry together.  Gently stir with the mixing spoon if needed.  ENJOY!

Presented in the gin's signature heavy-weight, crystal clear glass bottle , Martin Miller's Gin and its botanicals are a taste feast - familiar juniper, coriander, angelica, and orris root, coupled with the more unusual cassia, cinnamon bark, and liquorice, with citrus elements of bitter Seville orange peel and lime and hints of cucumber on the finish.

Martin was the first to use cucumber in his gin and his obsession with every last detail of recipe, quality of ingredients, distilling processes and his inspired madness by insisting on the use of Icelandic spring water to blend the gin to bottling strength, gives the gin's characteristic smoothness and multi award-winning taste and aroma. Uniquely, the gin is batch distilled like whisky and unlike any other gin uses two separate distillations in their century-old copper pot still named 'Angela' - one for the juniper and earthy botanicals and one for the citrus peels which gives Martin Miller's its clarity of flavour.

Serve your guests some waist watching ginspiration this Christmas.  Martin Miller's Gin is available from Sainsbury's, Waitrose and Ocado, RRP £26.00