Christmas Cranberry Cocktail

This Christmas cranberry cocktail is a festive drink to make on a comfortable vacation night or serve at a vacation celebration. It’s made with bourbon, cranberries, lime and orange liquor and served over a giant dice.

The vacation season brings with it a cascade of festive flavors, and one timeless ingredient that stands out is the cranberry. I have a tendency to purchase a number of additional baggage in November and freeze them to make use of all winter lengthy. I’m an enormous cranberry sauce lover!

Cranberry cocktails are a basic alternative for the autumn and winter months, and so they effortlessly transition into the vacation season. The brilliant and tangy profile of cranberries pairs completely with the heat of bourbon.

Whereas cranberries get loads of consideration round Thanksgiving, the ruby purple hue is ideal to take heart stage in Christmas cocktails, including a burst of tartness and a splash of vibrant shade. I’m excited to share the Christmas Cranberry Cocktail recipe that I’ve been sipping since Thanksgiving!

A Cranberry Twist On Basic Bourbon

Whereas my liquor of alternative in the summertime is tequila, within the cooler months I like an excellent bourbon cocktail.

I grew up with grandparents who cherished bourbon. The scent alone has fantastic reminiscences for me. Bourbon’s versatility extends past the basic Outdated Original or Manhattan (my favorites), and I like all the brand new cocktails that seem within the cooler months. Whether or not it’s a spiced bourbon punch for a crowd or a Bourbon Bitter with a cranberry twist, it’s enjoyable to make a home cocktail to serve on the vacations. (Don’t neglect eggnog with bourbon too!)

Aged in charred oak barrels, bourbon acquires a smoothness and complexity that pairs exceptionally properly with a wide range of elements, making it a flexible alternative for crafting cocktails. The caramel, vanilla, and generally spicy undertones of bourbon can rework a easy drink right into a celebration of flavors.

When you might like our bourbon neat or on the rocks, I choose my drinks to have a little bit of sweetness to steadiness the wealthy, oaky spice of bourbon. Bulleit is considered one of my favorites 🙂

In case you don’t like bourbon, you’ll be able to do this recipe as a cranberry vodka cocktail too! I choose it with lime to orange, however in case you love orange you’ll be able to sub in a splash of orange juice as an alternative.

Home made Cranberry Easy Syrup

What makes this vacation drink distinctive is the do-it-yourself cranberry easy syrup, which is sort of a strained model of cranberry sauce. When you have recent for frozen cranberries round, you can also make this from scratch in just some minutes. Belief me – the flavour and richness of recent cranberry is value it!

BUT, in case you don’t have recent cranberries you can also make a fast model with cranberry juice! Simply remember to discover 100% cranberry juice and never a youngsters fruit punch model. You’ll combine the cranberry juice with both a pure easy syrup (equal elements sugar and water heated till the sugar dissolves) or you’ll be able to even use a pre-made easy in a bottle like this one.

One Massive Dice

I like my bourbon cocktails served over a giant dice. I discovered this silicone tray on Amazon and it really works properly. The large dice isn’t nearly aesthetics; it’s a way that enhances the general consuming expertise. The sluggish melting of a giant ice dice minimizes dilution, permitting you to savor the complete taste profile of the cocktail from the primary sip to the final. I additionally prefer it as a result of I’ve delicate tooth.

Cranberry Christmas Cocktail Recipe

Elements

2 oz bourbon
1 oz cranberry easy syrup (or 1/2 ounce cranberry juice and 1/2 ounce plain easy syrup)
1/2 oz orange liqueur (comparable to Cointreau or Grand Marnier)
1/2 oz recent lime juice
A handful of recent cranberries (for garnish)
Sprig of rosemary (for garnish)
Ice cubes for shaking
A big dice for serving

For cranberry easy syrup:

1/4 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup recent cranberries

Directions

Step 1: Put together Easy Syrup

Begin by making cranberry easy syrup. In a small saucepan, mix 1/4 cup water, 1/4 cup sugar and three/4 cup cranberries. Warmth over medium excessive warmth, stirring till the sugar dissolves and the cranberries have begun to pop open, releasing their juices. Permit to chill barely earlier than straining. Alternatively you need to use cranberry juice and a pre-made easy syrup like this one.

Step 2: Pressure Cranberries

Pour the cooked cranberries right into a colander over a small bowl and press to launch all of the juice.

Step 3: Mix Elements

Add bourbon, cranberry easy syrup (or add the cranberry juice and easy blended), orange liqueur, recent lime juice, and ice to the shaker.

Step 4: Shake Properly

Shake the combination vigorously for about 15-20 seconds.

Step 5: Pressure into Glass

Add massive dice to a cocktail glass and pressure the combination into the glass.

Step 6: Garnish

Give your Christmas Cranberry Cocktail a festive contact by garnishing it with a twist of orange peel, a sprig of recent rosemary for an evergreen look or a number of extra recent floating cranberries.

Extra Festive Concepts

As you propose your vacation festivities, contemplate complementing your vacation cocktail with different pleasant creations. Take a look at this cranberry smoothie recipe for a refreshing non-alcoholic choice or discover the artwork of crafting a surprising Christmas charcuterie board to impress your friends.

Cheers to a vacation season full of good firm, laughter, and pleasant sips of this enchanting cranberry-infused libation!