A Cranberry Old Fashioned cocktail is a festive drink that you must try this season. This classic cocktail combines the rich flavors of bourbon with the sweet and tart tang of cranberry.
A spiced simple syrup takes this cocktail flavor to the next level. Whether you're hosting a holiday party or just looking for a new favorite cocktail, the Cranberry Old Fashioned recipe is one you need to try.
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Why you'll love this Cranberry Juice Old Fashioned
This easy Cranberry Old Fashioned recipe is a bourbon cocktail that is full of holiday spirit. The blend of bourbon, cranberry juice, and spiced syrup creates a drink that is both refreshing and comforting.
The flavored simple syrup adds sweetness and spice in one easy step. And a few extra dashes of Angostura Bitters add even more holiday vibes. The warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and clove, create a fantastic holiday cocktail!
There is something so special about the way cranberry juice and bourbon pair together. The complex and lightly sweet flavor of bourbon contrasts with the bright and tangy notes of cranberry juice.
Related: Spiced Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail
This cranberry old-fashioned cocktail is perfect for festive gatherings or cozy nights by the fire. And with just a few ingredients, it couldn't be easier. You don't even need a saucepan or have to wait for a simple syrup to cool.
There are many versions of a cranberry old fashioned cocktail that you can make. This drink recipe doesn't get cranberry flavor from a cranberry simple syrup. Instead, I use a spiced syrup that is store-bought.
You may also want to check out my spiced cranberry juice recipe which would take care of the flavors without needing much, if any simple syrup.
This is sure to be one of your new favorite cocktails!
Ingredients
Cranberry juice - cranberry juice is sweet and tart and is easy to find in any store. Jump down to the variations section to see alternative ways to get that cranberry flavor in other ways.
Bourbon - Use your favorite quality bourbon or whiskey that you have on hand to make this drink. If you love the flavor of the base liquor, it goes a long way in creating a cocktail that you'll love. You don't need something super expensive, you just need to like the flavor.
Hipstirs Old Fashioned Syrup - I recently got to try the holiday-flavored simple syrups from Hipstirs and fell in love with this one in particular. Old Fashioned syrup is a spiced simple syrup which means it's sweet but also has notes of the seasonal spices we love at this time of year plus a hint of citrus. You can make this cocktail even if you don't have this particular syrup, but it does make it super easy.
Lime juice - lime juice makes every cocktail better in my opinion. It brightens the flavor and balances sweetness. Fresh works best, so use that if at all possible. In a pinch, you can try bottled juice, but a better option would be to use another type of citrus like lemon.
Bitters - Bitters is like the salt and pepper of cocktail making. It has a complex flavor that is very bold and you only need a few drops. In this case, it helps to bring out the spices in the syrup and takes the flavor right into a cocktail perfect for fall and winter. Check out Cocktails with Bitters.
See the printable recipe card for quantities and full recipe.
How to make a Cranberry Old Fashioned
Step 1
Add the bourbon, cranberry juice, lime juice and bitters to a cocktail shaker.
Step 2
Add the Old Fashioned Simple Syrup to the cocktail shaker.
Step 3
Add ice to the shaker and mix well.
Step 4
Add a large ice cube into a glass then strain the cranberry bourbon cocktail over it.
Garnish the cocktail with a sprig of rosemary, cinnamon sticks, or orange twist.
Your cranberry old-fashioned is now ready to be enjoyed!
The spiced Cranberry Old Fashioned is a delicious and festive drink that is perfect for any occasion. A Cranberry Old Fashioned is easy to make for your next gathering! Add one to your cocktail menu this year.
Variations
- To make this cranberry cocktail without the Hipstirs Old Fashioned Syrup, you can use plain store-bought syrup or homemade simple syrup plus a little extra cocktail bitters. Hipstirs also makes a Cranberry Pie flavored syrup but I prefer to use the Old Fashioned syrup in this cocktail.
- You can also make this with spiced cranberry juice and a little bit of simple syrup if needed. And if you like jam cocktails you can try it with a little bit of jellied cranberry sauce.
- Citrus - Muddle some fresh orange peel in the bottom of the cocktail shaker along with the simple syrup before adding the rest of the ingredients to the cocktail shaker. This will give an extra layer of citrus flavor and is reminiscent of a classic old fashioned.
- More spice - Need even more seasonal spices? Add a little pumpkin pie spice or a mix of ground cinnamon and nutmeg to the liquid in the shaker.
- Heat - Ginger would pair really well with all of the flavors in this Cranberry Old Fashioned cocktail. Add some grated ginger to the cocktail shaker to give this drink a little kick.
- Bitters - Use another flavor of bitters to play around with flavors. Orange bitters, chocolate bitters or specialty flavor blends are bold and impart tons of flavor in only a few dashes.
A Cranberry Old Fashioned is quick and easy and can be customized to suit your taste preferences easily. Keep it classic or experiment with some variations, either way, it will probably become a new favorite drink to make a home!
Top tips
- To keep the cocktail balanced, you'll want to refrain from adding more of the spiced simple syrup if you are trying to get more spice flavors in the drink. It will become way too sweet. Instead, use the noted amount of syrup and add in more spices on their own or more bitters.
- I like fresh cranberries for garnishes only. While you can muddle them in cocktails, too much of the skin or pith can be bitter. I suggest store-bought cranberry juice instead.
- Use this recipe if you are just making one cocktail, but don't forget you can use the serving calculator in the recipe card if you need to make them for a crowd.
Frequently Asked Questions
An Old Fashioned is a favorite classic cocktail made with bourbon or whiskey, a sugar cube, bitters, and a citrus twist. The drink is typically served over ice in an old-fashioned glass or coupe and garnished with an orange peel.
While Old Fashioneds are typically enjoyed by people who really love bourbon or whiskey since they are liquor-forward, this cranberry version of an Old Fashioned is easy to make and feels like the perfect holiday cocktail.
Bottles marked "100% cranberry juice" are typically cranberry juice that may also have other fruit juices added to temper the tartness of the cranberries. Cranberry Juice Cocktail has sugar, or another type of sweetener added to make the juice taste sweeter. You can use either in this recipe but you may want to taste it before deciding if you also need to add simple syrup.
Make sure you don’t lose this recipe by saving it for later! Also, for more recipes make sure you’re following me on Pinterest, Instagram and like my page on Facebook. If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a star rating and tag me in your pictures!
More easy cranberry cocktails
- Vodka and Cranberry
- Frozen Cranberry Vodka Slush
- Cranberry Moscow Mule
- Crockpot Christmas Punch with Cranberry Juice (it's non-alcoholic but you can spike it with vodka or bourbon!
More bourbon cocktails
- Whiskey Mule
- Best Bourbon Cocktails for Thanksgiving
- Apple Cider Old Fashioned with Maple
- Pine Old Fashioned
- Knob Creek Old Fashioned
- Fireball Old Fashioned
- Easy Whiskey Sour Recipe
Cranberry Bourbon Old Fashioned
Ingredients
- 2 oz. bourbon or whiskey
- 1 oz cranberry juice
- ½ oz Hipstirs Old Fashioned Syrup
- ½ oz lime
- 2 dashes bitters
Instructions
- To a cocktail shaker add bourbon, cranberry juice, lime juice, Old Fashioned syrup and bitters.
- Add ice and shake well.
- Strain into a cocktail glass of a fresh, large ice cube.
Notes
- To keep the cocktail balanced, you'll want to refrain from adding more of the spiced simple syrup if you are trying to get more spice flavors in the drink. It will become way too sweet. Instead, use the noted amount of syrup and add in more spices on their own or more bitters.
- I like fresh cranberries for garnishes only. While you can muddle them in cocktails, too much of the skin or pith can be bitter. I suggest store-bought cranberry juice instead.
- Use this recipe if you are just making one cocktail, but don't forget you can use the serving calculator in the recipe card if you need to make them for a crowd.
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