Cranberry Old Fashioned

Cranberry Old Fashioneds are one of our holiday favorites! Made with 100% cranberry juice and a splash of homemade cranberry simple syrup, they’re a delicious twist on a classic and perfectly festive for the holidays!

I don’t know about you, but I’m a big fan of old fashioneds. Maybe it’s a Wisconsin thing (Wisconsin Old Fashioneds are DEFINITELY a thing)… or maybe it’s just a cold weather thing… but either way, once fall hits I’m all about them.

And as much as I love a traditional old fashioned, it’s always fun putting a new and different twist on a favorite. So this year I decided it was time to test out a cranberry version. And I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve made them since.

I made them for my family’s Thanksgiving and everyone loved them SO MUCH… I made them again for Christmas. Between the tart cranberry juice and muddled orange and the sweet simple syrup, they really are the perfect balance of flavors.

Not to mention… clearly the perfect holiday cocktail! Because nothing says holidays like cranberries, and when you add a slice of orange and a sprig of fresh rosemary, it’s a beautifully festive drink for all your holiday celebrations!

what you’ll need for this recipe

Oranges – I used fresh orange slices for muddling and for the garnish. I slice them about 1 centimeter thick for muddling and a little thinner for the garnish.

Cranberries + sugar – I made cranberry simple syrup using sugar, water, and fresh cranberries. This adds an extra pop of cranberry flavor, in addition to sweetness.

Bitters – I used Angostura bitters, which is traditionally used in old fashioneds. Substitute orange bitters, cranberry bitters, or any other flavor of bitters you enjoy.

Brandy – This drink can be made with either brandy or bourbon – whichever you prefer! I’ve made it both ways and enjoy both.

Cranberry juice – I added a splash of 100% cranberry juice for delicious tart cranberry flavor. For a sweeter drink, use cranberry juice cocktail.

Sprite – I topped it with Sprite for a bit of fizz. You can substitute club soda or omit it altogether.

Rosemary – Fresh rosemary is the perfect garnish, especially if you’re making these for a holiday celebration!

how to make cranberry old fashioneds

Muddle the fruits. In a rocks or lowball glass, muddle the orange slice, cranberries, bitters, and simple syrup. The orange should be smushed but the rind still intact.

Add the ice & liquids. Fill the glass 3/4 full with ice. Add the 2 ounces brandy (or bourbon) and 2 ounces cranberry juice.

Top it off. Top it off with Sprite or another mixer as desired.

how to make cranberry simple syrup

1. In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup water, and 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries. Stir and bring to a boil.
2. Listen carefully until the cranberries begin to pop, then continue boiling for 1-2 minutes.
3. Remove from heat, cover, and set aside to cool.
4. Strain through a fine mesh strainer, reserving the cranberries. Store the simple syrup and the cranberries separately in sealed containers in the refrigerator.