Enjoy this tasty Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail this holiday season. Made with cranberry simple syrup and your favorite bourbon, it's perfect for any festive celebration.
This delicious cranberry bourbon cocktail is a holiday take on the classic old-fashioned. It's a great drink to enjoy during the holiday season. If you still want a festive cocktail but aren't a bourbon fan, try my Christmas Moscow Mule or espresso martini with tequila instead.
This cocktail is also known as a cranberry old-fashioned or cranberry bourbon sour. Serve with Cranberry Baked Brie as an appetizer and Short Rib Ragu when hosting friends!
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Ingredients
- Simple syrup. You will need water, granulated sugar and fresh or frozen cranberries. Full instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Bourbon. Use your favorite bourbon for this cocktail. I've used both Angel's Envy and Maker's Mark.
- Bitters. You will need just 1-2 dashes of bitters for this recipe.
See the recipe card below for quantities and remaining ingredients.
Substitutions & Variations
- Use store-bought simple syrup to make this cocktail even easier. If you can't find cranberry simple syrup in the grocery store, you can buy it online. Try 1883's Cranberry Simple Syrup for a hint of fall flavor.
- Replace the sugar with pure maple syrup to give this Christmas drink a more complex flavor.
- If you're a fan of sparkling drinks, add a splash of club soda or even ginger beer.
Instructions
Step 1: Make the cranberry simple syrup. Add all of the ingredients to a saucepan and bring to a simmer.
Step 2: Cook until cranberries are soft, about 10-15 minutes. Let the syrup cool then drain through a mesh strainer.
Step 3: In a mixing glass or cocktail shaker, add all of the ingredients and some ice.
Step 4: Stir everything together with a cocktail spoon, pour into glasses with ice and enjoy!
What is the best bourbon to use?
Use high-quality bourbon for this recipe but not the most expensive because you are adding fruit juice and simple syrup. Check out this list of the best bourbons to drink. If you don't have a favorite, here are some recommendations:
- Angel's Envy
- Woodford Reserve
- Wild Turkey
- Maker's Mark
- Bulleit
Sarah's Top Tips
- Use a large ice cube in each glass rather than multiple small ones to avoid watering down the drink. I recommend this ice cube tray. You can also use whiskey stones.
- A bar spoon is super helpful when making this cranberry old-fashioned. I like a mixing glass but a cocktail shaker also works great.
- The simple syrup will stay for a couple of weeks in the fridge if stored in a sealed container.
- If you don't want to make the cranberry simple syrup, use another ½-1 ounce of cranberry juice.
Serving
This cranberry bourbon cocktail is best served immediately after stirring. Garnish with orange peel, cranberries and a sprig of fresh rosemary.
It is a great drink to serve at your Christmas party alongside a hot Aperol cocktail or even at your next dinner party with friends. Serve it for an after-dinner drink after enjoying pesto chicken lasagna.
More Holiday Recipes
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Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail
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Ingredients
- 4 ounces bourbon
- 1 ounce cranberry simple syrup, recipe below
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- 4 dashes bitters
- 2 orange peels
- 2 tablespoons cranberries, for garnish
- 2 sprigs rosemary, for garnish
Cranberry Simple Syrup
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup fresh or frozen whole cranberries
Instructions
- In 2 cocktail glasses, add one large ice cube, whiskey stone or 2-3 smaller ice cubes.
- In each glass, pour in 2 ounces of bourbon, ½ ounce of simple syrup, 1 ounce of cranberry juice and 2 dashes of bitters.
- Stir each cocktail with a cocktail spoon. Twist an orange peel over each glass and drop it into the drink. Garnish with 1 tablespoon of cranberries and 1 sprig of rosemary. Serve and enjoy!
Cranberry Simple Syrup
- In a medium saucepan, add all of the simple syrup ingredients. Bring it to a simmer over medium heat.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until cranberries are soft, about 10-15 minutes. Let the syrup cool then drain through a mesh strainer. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Sarah's Tips
- Use a large ice cube in each glass rather than multiple small ones to avoid watering down the drink. I recommend this ice cube tray. You can also use whiskey stones.
- A bar spoon is super helpful when making this cranberry old-fashioned. I like a mixing glass but a cocktail shaker also works great.
- The simple syrup will stay for a couple of weeks in the fridge if stored in a sealed container.
- If you don't want to make the cranberry simple syrup, use another ½-1 ounce of cranberry juice.
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