Christmas Cranberry Old Fashion
A fun and festive cocktail, based on a classic old fashioned with a twist of fresh homemade cranberry orange syrup.
Servings 1 drink
Calories 138kcal
Ingredients
Cranberry Orange Syrup (makes 2 oz)
- ¼ Cup Orange Juice fresh squeezed if possible, about half a large orange
- ¼ Cup Water
- ⅓ Cup Fresh Cranberries
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
Christmas Old Fashioned
- ½ oz Cranberry Orange Syrup
- 2 Sugar Cubes
- 3-4 dashes Angostura Bitters
- 1-2 dashes Cardamom Bitters
- 1 Giant Ice Cube
- 1 ½ oz Bourbon good quality sipping bourbon is best
- 3-4 Dried Cranberries optional, for garnish
- 1 piece Orange Peel optional, for garnish
- 1 sprig Rosemary optional, for garnish
Instructions
Cranberry Orange Syrup (2 oz)
- In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, orange juice, water, and cranberries. Heat until bubbling and the berries begin to pop, stirring frequently.
- Once bubbling, use a wooden spoon to smash all the berries as they soften. Then turn off the heat. Pour through a mesh strainer into a jar, and set aside loosely covered.
Cranberry Old Fashioned
- In the bottom of a heavy-bottomed rocks or double old fashioned glass, saturate the sugar cubes with the syrup, and then muddle until combined.
- Add the bitters and gently place a giant ice cube in the glass. Top with the bourbon, and stir to combine.
- Garnish with fresh rosemary, orange peel, and dried cranberries. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Make ahead tips:
- Allow the syrup to cool, then cover tightly and store in the fridge for 1-2 days.
- The cocktail tastes best enjoyed immediately, so prepare each to serve.
- Ingredients:
- Bourbon: I like a sweet and smooth bourbon in an old fashioned. I used Woodford Reserve here, but also tried this recipe with Maker's Mark, which was delicious but with more bite.
- Fresh produce: I recommend using fresh squeezed orange juice, and then you can use the peel for garnish. The rosemary garnish should also be fresh. If needed, you can make the syrup with thawed frozen cranberries.