Cranberries in Cocktails

Cranberries aren’t just for cranberry sauce.

By making syrup, muddling fresh berries, or even using cranberry sauce, you can put a unique and tangy spin on a drink. Plus, if the weather is bit blustery, it might make it feel like holiday time. And who doesn’t like a little celebration in their day?

Cranberry Cosmo

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz. Reyka Vodka
• 1/2 oz. Orange Liqueur
• 1/2 oz. Squeezed Lime Juice
• 1/2 oz. Cranberry Sauce
• Fresh Cranberries (for garnish)

Preparation: Combine Reyka vodka, cranberry sauce, lime juice, orange liqueur and ice in cocktail shaker. Shake well and strain into glass. Garnish with cranberries.

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Ketel One Cranberry Celebration

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. Ketel One® Citroen
• 1 tbsp. Cranberry Reduction*
• 1/2 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
• 1/2 oz. Simple Syrup
• Club Soda

Preparation: Combine first four ingredients in a mixing glass. Vigorously shake with ice and pour contents into a rocks glass (fine strain over new ice if you prefer no chunks). Top with a splash of club soda. Garnish with a cranberry and mint sprig.

*Cranberry Reduction

Take a 12 oz. bag of cranberries, rinse and add 4 oz. of orange juice and 4 oz. of simple syrup. Bring it to a boil, and let simmer for 5-7 minutes. Stir occasionally while it is simmering. Place the reduction into the freezer for 30 minutes and allow to thicken.

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Cranberry Smash

Courtesy of Keith Ferris, Culinary Institute of America

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup Fresh Cranberries (approximately 8)
• 1 1/2 oz. Vodka or Bourbon
• 5 Fresh Mint Leaves
• 1 Lime Wedge (cut into 6 pieces)
• 1 tsp. Brown Sugar
• 5 oz. Ginger Ale

Preparation: Place cranberries, mint, lime, and sugar in a cocktail shaker. Using a muddling stick (or the back of a tablespoon), muddle the mixture until the cranberries are slightly crushed and the mint is bruised. Add ice and shake for approximately 10 seconds. Place the mixture into a rocks glass with ice and add ginger ale. Add fresh mint leaves as a garnish.

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Winter Cranberry Cocktail

Courtesy of Carrie Floyd

Ingredients:

• 5 oz. Freshly Squeezed Tangerine or Orange Juice
• 2 oz. Vodka
• 1 to 2 oz. Cranberry Simple Syrup*
• 1 to 2 oz. Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice
• Fresh Cranberries

Preparation: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, then pour in the tangerine juice, vodka, and the lesser amount of lemon juice and cranberry syrup. Shake vigorously, then taste. If you like a sweeter drink, add more cranberry syrup. If you prefer it more tart, add lemon juice. Strain into two martini glasses. Garnish with fresh cranberries.

*Cranberry Simple Syrup

Place 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water and 1 cup fresh cranberries in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer and cook until the cranberries have started to burst and are soft. Strain through a sieve, pushing on the berries with a back of a large spoon, and spooning the pulp from the underside into the syrup.

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Cranberry-Gin Fizz

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp. Gin
• 1 tbsp. Cranberry Reduction*
• 1 1/2 tsp. Fresh Lime Juice
• Ice cubes
• Lemon-lime Soft Drink

Preparation: Combine gin, cranberry reduction, and fresh lime juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes. Cover with lid; shake vigorously until thoroughly chilled (about 30 seconds). Strain into a 10-oz. glass filled with ice cubes. Top with lemon-lime soft drink.

*Cranberry Reduction

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Cranberry juice
• 1/2 cup Canned jellied cranberry sauce
• 1/4 cup Sugar
• 4 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 (3-inch) rosemary sprig

Preparation: Boil first 4 ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, 4 to 5 minutes or until smooth. Reduce heat to low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 20 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half and slightly thickened. Add rosemary; cover and let stand 5 minutes. Discard rosemary. Cool mixture 30 minutes. Cover and chill 1 hour. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator up to 1 week.