5 Cranberry Cocktail Recipes

Recipe courtesy The Hightower, Austin, TX

1½ ounces Deep Eddy Ruby Red Vodka
2 ounces fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice
½ ounce cranberry juice
3 dashes Fee Brothers Rhubarb Bitters

In an Old-Fashioned glass, stir together all ingredients with ice. Serve with a straw and float a fresh cranberry on top to garnish.

Recipe courtesy Nick & Toni’s, East Hampton, NY

1½ ounces Bootlegger 21 New York Vodka
3 ounces club soda
½ ounce Flag Hill Cranberry Liqueur (or cranberry juice)
Lime wedge, for garnish

In a highball glass half-filled with ice, add the vodka and club soda. Gently pour in cranberry liqueur to “float” on top. Garnish with lime wedge.

Recipe courtesy Katsuya by Starck at SLS South Beach, Miami

¾ ounce white cranberry juice
¾ ounce lime juice
½ ounce simple syrup
¼ ounce Cointreau
1½ ounces Absolut Ruby Red Grapefruit Flavored Vodka
Fresh cranberry, for garnish

Mix all ingredients except cranberry in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a martini glass. Float a fresh cranberry in the glass to garnish.

Recipe courtesy The Painted Burro, Somerville, MA

2 ounces Lunazul Blanco Tequila
1½ ounces spiced cranberry syrup (recipe follows)
½ ounce Combier orange liqueur
½ ounce lime juice
3 sugar-coated cranberries, for garnish

Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well, and pour (with ice) into a margarita or lowball glass. Garnish with the cranberries speared on a toothpick (spear the berries first, then moisten with water and roll in granulated sugar to coat).

Spiced Cranberry Syrup

1 cup fresh cranberries
½ cup water
½ cup sugar
1 tablespoon allspice
1 tablespoon whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
Piece of ginger root (1 inch), sliced

Add all ingredients to a large saucepan. Simmer over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil until most cranberries split, about 3–4 minutes. Remove from heat and cover pot. Let steep for 1 hour and then strain through sieve or cheesecloth. The syrup will keep for 1 week.

Recipe courtesy Eastern Standard, Boston

4 cucumber slices, divided
Pinch of salt
2 ounces cranberry juice
1 ounce simple syrup
1 ounce lime juice

Muddle 3 cucumber slices and salt in a cocktail shaker. Add remaining ingredients and ice. Shake well and strain into a martini glass. Cut a slit into the remaining cucumber slice and perch on the edge of the glass to garnish.