Maple Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail
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This Maple Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail recipe is the kind of delicious tart-meets-sweet libation you’ll want at every get-together from Thanksgiving through New Year’s.
Maple Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail?
Well, friends, it’s the first day of November, so that means it’s the official kick-off to the holiday season here in blogland! (You may have noticed that we bloggers are always a month or so ahead when it comes to holidays. That’s so we can get ideas and info out to you in plenty of time for you to use them.) And since today also happens to be Friday, I thought this Maple Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail would be a tasty way to get the weekend started. (If you’re looking for more Christmas cocktails, check out this post HERE. I’ve shared all my favorites!)
As I’ve mentioned, bourbon is a newly acquired taste for me. A couple of years ago I was on a mission to start liking the stuff, and now I can say I’m a fan. It all began with this Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail I made several years ago. (It’s different from the bourbon libation I’m sharing today.)
I’m not at the point where I can drink bourbon straight or even on the rocks, but it has become a go-to liquor at my house. If you’re new to bourbon or looking to gain an appreciation of it, may I recommend Four Roses Single Barrel? I think the type of bourbon you get makes a huge difference, and this is a favorite of mine. I also recently tried Redbreast 12 Year when I was in Ireland. It was delicious, too. I did pick up a bottle to sample it at home. A report will be coming!
Okay, back to this Maple Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail. Even if you’re not a fan of bourbon, I think you’ll still like this recipe. The maple and cranberry flavors play so nicely together!
How Do You Make This Maple Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail?
The secret ingredients in this recipe are the maple cranberries and the maple cranberry syrup. Don’t worry; both are simple to make. Here’s what I did.
In a saucepan, simmer one cup of fresh cranberries with 1/2 cup maple syrup. Heat until the cranberries start to pop. Then remove the mixture from the stove. As I said, it’s simple.
Once that cools, you’re ready to make the cocktail.
First, add ice to a rocks glass. Then, top the ice with some of the cranberries you cooked in the maple syrup.
Next, fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add some of the syrup from the cranberries. You can add as much syrup as you want to make the drink as sweet as you like. Now add the bourbon and cranberry juice, and shake vigorously.
Strain that into the prepared rocks glass. Top with a splash of seltzer water or club soda. For garnish, add a sprig of fresh rosemary, and if you like, a few fresh cranberries.
Cheers, friends!
The flavor combination is so good. Maple + cranberries + bourbon = cold-weather cocktail perfection. The garnishes also make this libation pretty for the holidays.
Looking for More Bourbon Cocktail Recipes? Try these:
- Cranberry Old Fashioned
- Apple Cider Sidecar
- Pumpkin Old Fashioned
- Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail
- Bourbon Cherries
Give this Maple Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail a try and let me know what you think.- Ready or not, it’s the holidays on IBC! And it’s about to get very merry around here.
Maple Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail?
Maple Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail
Ingredients
- 4 ounces bourbon (I prefer Four Roses Single Barrel)
- 3 ounces cranberry juice
- 2 ounces maple cranberry syrup (adjusted to your desired level of sweetness)
- 2 ounces seltzer or club soda
- Maple cranberries and rosemary sprigs for garnish
Maple Cranberries:
- 1/2 cup real maple syrup
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
Instructions
- Begin by preparing the maple cranberries and maple cranberry syrup. In a small saucepan, mix the real maple syrup and fresh cranberries. Simmer until the cranberries begin to burst (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat and cool completely. (You will have enough maple cranberries and syrup to make 5-6 cocktails.)
- Next, add ice to two rocks glasses. Top each with a tablespoon of the maple cranberries. Set aside.
- In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the bourbon, cranberry juice, and maple cranberry syrup. Shake vigorously.
- Strain into the prepared rocks glasses. Top each with a splash (1 ouncof seltzer water. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary.
This was fantastic! My two adult children and I really enjoyed it. The Four Roses Bourbon really makes the drink special. We don’t do added sugar so I used Lakanto Monk Fruit Maple Syrup instead of real maple syrup and we used Lakewood Organic Pure Cranberry Juice with no added sugar.
Hi there! How can I convert this recipe into a pitcher/punch now serving for an upcoming holiday petty?
What a yummy cocktail! I like the idea of adding a shot of orange liqueur thought it is lovely as is. The maple cranberries are especially delicious. It is NOT a drink you can throw together at the last minute–it requires planning ahead. But the reward (and the option of repeating the pleasure for days to come) worth the investment.
How do you make the maple cranberry syrup? Is it like a simple syrup?
Great fall.cocktail. Perfect combination of tart and sweet. I added a few capfuls of Triple Sec.
Hey there fellow Four Roses fan! If you haven’t visited their distillery, it’s a lovely stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
Love your site – so glad I found it!
Delicious! All of the ingredients blended well together to create a festive drink. Thanks!
Michael,
I love your blog, it’s whimsical and festive. I am working on making some Xmas tree ice cubes right now so I can make this drink this weekend !! I put pomegranate seeds in the mold and some pieces of lime zest just for color, but just thought of this now, should put in some rosemary, so will do that for the next BATCH !! The cocktail sounds fun and can’t wait to make it!! Keep you your amazing work. I appreciate your zest for life !!! Happy Holidays!!!
The drinks you shared were awesome. I will save the recipe for this dish.
Hey there! I flagged this recipe but I thought I remembered you sharing a cocktail recipe with bourbon, apple cider and cream soda? Am I making this up??
There is a bourbon / apple cider cocktail in my Instagram Story highlights. There’s no cream soda though. Maybe that was it?
xo Michael
Hi, lovely sounding cocktail. Do you use unsweetened or sweetened cranberry juice? Nice photography also.
I buy the OceanSpray 100% Cranberry Juice. I’m not sure if it’s sweetened or not.
xo Michael
Thanks!
a very nice cocktail, and a nice looking one at that, cranberries are a great anti-oxidant too, thank you
I am a great bourbon lover! My drink of choice. I must try this
Cheers Michael
Yay!! Enjoy! It’s delish.
xo Michael
Oh Lort… I have to try this! I wonder if freezing some of the cranberry juice/soda as ice cubes would be too much for the drink? The beauty of that red color compares to those beautiful green chairs in your living room from the last post. I love those chairs, the JB pillow and that awesome painting above the dry sink. Thank you for sharing!
You could totally do that. I don’t know if I’d freeze the soda though. You’d lose the fizz. And thank you so much for the sweet compliments!
xo Michael