Description

This Maple Bourbon Cranberry Cocktail is a simple yet impressive drink featuring muddled fresh cranberries, smooth bourbon, and rich maple syrup. Perfect for holiday parties and cozy gatherings, it’s easy to scale and make ahead.

Ingredients

Scale

2 ounces bourbon (e.g., Buffalo Trace or Woodford Reserve)
1 ounce pure maple syrup (Grade A Dark Amber preferred)
2 ounces unsweetened cranberry juice (100% cranberry juice)
½ ounce fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons fresh or frozen cranberries (for muddling)
Fresh cranberries (for garnish)
Orange peel (for garnish)
Fresh rosemary sprig (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

Muddle the cranberries: In the bottom of your cocktail shaker, add the fresh or frozen cranberries and the maple syrup. Use your muddler to gently press and twist the cranberries until they burst and release their juice.
Add the liquid ingredients: Pour in the bourbon, unsweetened cranberry juice, and fresh lime juice.
Shake with ice: Fill your shaker with a generous amount of ice. Seal it tightly and shake vigorously for about 15-20 seconds until the outside of the shaker feels frosty and cold.
Double-strain into a glass: Place a fine-mesh strainer over your rocks glass filled with one large ice cube or a few smaller ones. Pour the contents of the shaker through the strainer.
Garnish and serve: Take a strip of orange peel and hold it over the glass with the peel side facing the drink. Give it a quick twist to express the oils over the surface. Drop the peel into the glass. Add a small skewer of fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary if using. Serve immediately.

Notes

For a party, make the cranberry-maple-lime base (without bourbon) up to 24 hours in advance. When ready to serve, combine 3.5 ounces of base with 2 ounces of bourbon per drink, shake, and strain. Use a large ice cube to slow dilution. If the cocktail is too tart, add a splash more maple syrup; if too sweet, add more lime juice.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Beverages
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cocktail
Calories: 220250
Sugar: 20
Sodium: 5
Carbohydrates: 25

Keywords: maple bourbon cranberry cocktail, easy cocktail recipe, holiday cocktail, bourbon cocktail, cranberry cocktail, maple syrup cocktail