It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and we have another shiny festive cocktail for you. The Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour gives the traditional Whiskey Sour a holiday outfit, with added fruitiness and flavor. Whether you’ll serve it to tickle your guests’ appetites or as an indulgent drink throughout your feasts, it will be an absolute winner!
Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour
PREP TIME 5 min
QUICK TIPS
INSTRUCTIONS
01
For the rim: place a good amount of sugar on a small plate, wet the rim of a lowball glass with lemon juice, then dip the rim into the sugar to coat
02
Fill the lowball glass with crushed ice, and set aside to cool
03
Add the whiskey, cranberry juice, orange juice, lemon juice and simple syrup into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds until chilled
04
Pour the mixture into the prepared glass, and garnish with fresh cranberries and thyme before serving
History of the Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour
The Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour cocktail is a festive spin on the classic Whiskey Sour, without the egg white, but with a fruity layer thanks to the cranberry and orange juices. Its forerunner dates back to the 1860s, and we need to thank the sailors for this recipe. Traveling by sea was difficult at the time, and so was finding clean water. That’s why ships would stock large amounts of spirits, like whiskey, that could be kept at room temperature. Another problem was scurvy, a disease caused by the lack of Vitamin C, therefore sailors would consume huge amounts of oranges and citrus. Combine the two and you’ll get an ancient version of the Whiskey Sour! Modern bartenders added the egg white to create that lovely foamy texture on top of the drink.
Variations
If you can’t get enough of this delish Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour, we’ve got you covered with a lot of tasty variations to serve at your holiday parties.
Blackberry Whiskey Sour
Elegant and tasty, the Blackberry Whiskey Sour will be the little black dress for your next gathering. It’s easy to make, and you can also skip the egg white for a vegan version. You’ll need bourbon, blackberry liqueur, blackberry simple syrup and walnut bitters for this recipe. Shake it all up, and serve neat in a coupé glass.
Cranberry Apple Whiskey Sour
Calling all fall lovers! This Whiskey Sour combines all our favorite flavors in a glass. Follow our Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour recipe, skip the orange juice and swap the simple syrup with a cranberry apple-infused version. You can make it at home by boiling ½ cup sugar, ½ cup water, 1 cup cranberries, and 2 sliced apples for a few minutes, then let it cool and strain it into a bottle.
Pomegranate Whiskey Sour
Looking for a lip-smacking cocktail for the holidays? The Pomegranate Whiskey Sour is a sophisticated sweet and tart sip that will leave your guests asking for more. Simply combine bourbon, lemon juice, and pomegranate-infused simple syrup in a shaker, shake vigorously and serve. We can’t get over its pink perfection!
When to serve
Cranberry is the star of the holiday menu. Whether you find it as a sauce on your Thanksgiving turkey, or in fruity, boozy cranberry cocktail recipes, it’s an unmissable flavor to have on your table. And don’t worry, you can use cranberry not only in sours but also in amazing holiday Martinis, Mojitos, and even Margaritas! The Orange Cranberry Whiskey Sour is sweet and tart, and you can serve it with all your savory dishes like turkey, cheese boards, and grains like farro and quinoa.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes! The woody, strong whiskey notes pair well with cranberry's sweetness and tartness. Whiskey also goes very well with citrus fruits, including lemon, orange, and mandarin.
Cranberry and orange are a classic festive combination. The berry's tartness is complemented by sweeter flavors like oranges, apples, and pineapple. Try experimenting with your recipes, and see what you prefer.
