A tart, tangy, and strong tipple, the Cranberry Old Fashioned is perfect for a winter’s eve.
There are few things I love more than the Winter Olympics. Any Olympics, really. But there’s something extra special to me about the winter games. During the Summer Olympics, those going for the gold are running, swimming, diving, and generally participating in events—at the highest level, of course—that many of us have participated in at some point in our lives. Even archery.
The Winter Olympics are… well, they’re equal parts thrilling and terrifying. Whenever I watch a skeleton run (which is like a face-first luge), all I can think to myself is “those helmets aren’t gonna help.” And the sheer, mind-boggling speed that many of the skiers achieve, not to mention their aerial acrobatics, is pretty impossible for me to even imagine doing. And then there’s curling, a sport I’ve become fairly obsessed with, even though I have no idea what’s going on, despite looking up the rules on several occasions.
Even though I’m here in sunny, warm Los Angeles, the snowy mountains of Cortina, where the most recent Winter Olympics took place, give me a vicarious and chilly feeling, one that requires a warming libation as I cheer on the Jamaican bobsled team. And there’s no better cocktail to enjoy whilst rooting for your favorite country’s athletes than a tangy and strong Cranberry Old Fashioned.
What is the best alcohol to use in a Cranberry Old Fashioned?
To craft this slightly sweet alcoholic treat, the base spirit you’ll want is either a robust and spicy rye whiskey or a smooth, slightly smoky aged bourbon. Either will meld deliciously with the drink’s other ingredients, so you’ll probably choose which one you’d prefer depending on your mood. I’ve become a big fan of Woodford Reserve, which makes both bourbon and rye, and is just as good when enjoyed straight, neat, or on the rocks. Brandy will work nicely as well, if you want a wintery variation on a Wisconsin Old Fashioned.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey
- 1 ounce cranberry juice unsweetened
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup
- 2 dashes Angostura or orange bitters
- Orange peel and fresh cranberries for garnish
Instructions
- Add the bourbon, cranberry juice, simple syrup, and bitters to a mixing glass filled with ice.
- Stir with a barspoon for about 30 seconds until well chilled and strain into a rocks glass with one large ice cube.
- Express the orange peel over the glass and rub it around the rim. Drop the peel and a few fresh cranberries into the glass.
Nutrition
What glassware and garnish are used?
Place a large cocktail cube in a rocks or Old Fashioned glass, pour your mixture in, and garnish with an orange peel and a few fresh cranberries on top.
What is the best cranberry juice to use?
An unsweetened variety of cranberry juice is the best option for this recipe. Many brands offer cranberry cocktail, which is sweetened, and other versions are often blended with other fruit juices, like apple or grape.
Other Old Fashioned variations worth trying
The name of the Old Fashioned cocktail comes from the fact that it’s an old-fashioned, no-frills, reliable concoction, something that will never go out of style. If this libation is where your cravings lie, then you may want to explore some of these other versions as well.
- Grand Old Fashioned – Grand Marnier makes this sipper an exquisite one.
- Smoked Old Fashioned – Here’s an atmospheric and full-bodied beverage.
- Italian Old Fashioned – A little Amaro makes this dram a lively one.
- Tequila Old Fashioned – This take on the classic drink is an earthy and peppery affair.
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