Holiday Bourbon Cranberry Cocktail With Orange Twist

Why I Love This Cocktail Recipe

Whether you're hosting friends, planning a holiday cocktail hour, or unwinding after a busy day, this cranberry bourbon cocktail is perfectly festive but also easy enough to make and enjoy alone. Made in a rocks glass with simple ingredients and big flavor, it's a great cocktail for bourbon lovers and classic cocktails fans.

Anyone who enjoys seasonal drink recipes that feel special without being complicated will love this one. -Danielle W.

Serve it with a couple of cranberries, an orange twist, or even sugared cranberries for sparkle. And if you love craft cocktails with easy holiday flair, this one will become a favorite. (Christmas Vacation Eggnog is another fantastic holiday favorite, too.)

Recipe Ingredients

Each component helps create the right balance of flavor, but don't be daunted, this is an easy to make cocktail recipe that can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. A smooth blend of cranberry juice and bourbon.

• Bourbon - Choose a smooth bourbon that you'd enjoy sipping. Something with vanilla and caramel notes complements cranberry beautifully. Avoid overly smoky bottles for this recipe, unless you want to put your own smoky twist on it.
• Demerara Sugar - This adds caramel depth that white sugar doesn't offer. If you prefer faster dissolving, replace with simple syrup or maple syrup. Both stir in easily, especially if your ingredients are at room temperature.
• Cranberry Juice - Use unsweetened cranberry juice for bold tartness (my preference) or cranberry juice cocktail for a softer, sweeter profile.
• Angostura Bitters - Bitters add structure and richness, helping the cocktail feel balanced like other classic cocktails.
• Orange Peel + Cherries - The orange twist adds citrus aroma. Peel or zest the orange over the glass to capture the orange oils. Amarena or maraschino cherries on a cocktail pick bring a festive pop of color and sweetness. To sweeten your drink more, stir in a teaspoon of Amarena cherry syrup.

See recipe card for quantities.

Substitutions + Variations

Make this festive bourbon drink to suit your style or your pantry.

• Adjusting Sweetness - For less sweet, use unsweetened cranberry juice. To make your drink sweeter, use an extra sugar cube or even better, 1-3 teaspoons of the Amarena cherry syrup.
• Smoky - Use a smoky bourbon for a fireside flavor and scent to add a whole other level of flavor to this bourbon cranberry cocktail.
• More Orange - For a definite orange flavor, use 1 oz bourbon and 1 oz Grand Marnier and continue with the cocktail as written otherwise.
• Cranberry Bourbon Fizz - Top with ginger beer or ginger ale for a refreshing cranberry bourbon fizz.
• More Garnishes - Add fresh cranberries, frozen cranberries, or sugared cranberries. Drop in a cinnamon stick or rosemary sprigs for holiday aroma, or rim the glass with a little orange sugar for sparkle.
• Shaken, Not Stirred - For a slightly silkier drink with a little added oxygen and dilution, mix this cocktail in a cocktail shaker.
• Make A Big Batch Ahead - Multiply this by as many as you like! Mix up the sugar, cranberry, bitters and bourbon (don't add the ice yet) and store covered in the fridge for up to 12 hours. Once ready to serve, place a large cube of ice in each glass and pour the cocktail over. Garnish as directed and enjoy.

Step-by-Step Instructions

This drink is very quick to make and full of rich flavors that taste like the holidays. Top tip: Place your bourbon and cranberry juice in the fridge 4 hours or more ahead of time.

Step 1. Place a sugar cube (or teaspoon of sugar) in a rocks glass.

Step 2. Add the cranberry juice and Angostura bitters.

Step 3. Muddle the sugar until it is dissolved.

Step 4. Add a large cube of ice and pour 2 ounces bourbon in. Stir well for about 15-20 seconds, until the cocktail is well chilled and frosty.

Step 5. Peel a strip of orange, squeeze it gently over the glass to release oils, and rub the peel along the rim. Add 1-3 Amarena or maraschino cherries on a cocktail pick, or a cinnamon stick if you like. Serve immediately.