Add a holiday twist to the classic mint julep.
Although iced, this cranberry mint julep is sure to warm you up on those cold winter nights!
Thanksgiving in near!
Kitchens everywhere are filled with busy chefs and cooks preparing delicious meals.
Fridges and freezers are packed with all sorts of goodies.
I have always looked forward to Thanksgiving. Not necessarily for all the food, but for the company of friends and family.
For this year’s holiday season, I will be serving this cranberry cocktail inspired by a classic favorite- the mint julep.
Holiday Cranberry Cocktail
This recipe serves 1. Multiply as needed.
Ingredients
- 8-10 mint leaves
- 2 sugar cubes, more if you prefer it sweet
- crushed ice, as needed
- 2 1/2 oz bourbon of your choice
- 2 Tbsp cranberry syrup, recipe follows
Instructions
1. Place mint leaves and sugar cubes in a glass.
2. Add 1 Tbsp of cranberry syrup. Use a muddler to crush everything together until sugar cubes have dissolved.
3. Fill glass with crushed ice. Add 2 1/2 oz of your favorite bourbon.
DO NOT use large ice cubes, you want CRUSHED ice. The drink is very strong and potent. It needs the crushed ice to dilute drink slightly.
Use a spoon to gently stir mixture together.
4. Add additional crushed ice. Add another 1 Tbsp of cranberry syrup. Garnish drink with mint leaves and fresh cranberries.
And voilà! You are ready to enjoy an icy, frosty cranberry mint julep! Cheers!
I wish you all a very happy holiday season filled with much love, laughter, and good food!
Cranberry Mint Julep
Ingredients
- 8 fresh mint leaves
- 2 sugar cubes (2 teaspoon granulated sugar) , or more if you prefer
- 1 oz (1 Tbsp) cranberry syrup, recipe follows
- crushed ice, as needed
- 2 ½ oz (5 Tbsp) bourbon of choice
Cranberry Syrup:
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup fresh cranberries
- finely grated zest from half a lime
Instructions
- Place mint leaves and sugar cubes in a glass.
- Add 1/2 oz (1 tbsp) cranberry syrup and muddle everything together until sugar cubes have dissolved.
- Fill glass with crushed ice. Add bourbon. (DO NOT use large ice cubes, you want CRUSHED ice. The drink is very strong and potent. It needs the crushed ice to dilute drink slightly.) Use a spoon to gently stir mixture together.
- Add additional crushed ice. Add remaining 1/2 oz (1 tbsp) of cranberry syrup. Garnish drink with mint leaves and fresh cranberries.
Cranberry Syrup:
- In a small sauce pot, bring water and sugar to a boil. Add cranberries and lime zest. Over medium-high heat, cook mixture for 3-5 minutes until cranberries begin bursting open. Once all the cranberries have burst, remove from heat. (Do not overcook, you don’t want the cranberries to turn to mush.)
- Let mixture cool to room temperature. Transfer to a container with a lid, let chill in the fridge until mixture is cold.
- Remove mixture from fridge and strain. At this point the syrup should have thicken. Strain out and discard cranberries (or save to snack on!). Return cranberry syrup to fridge until ready to use.
Notes
- 1 sugar cube is roughly equal to 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
What a perfect drink to start a holiday party. So refreshing and season appropriate
Thanks Christine! I think so too :)
This looks really great, and exactly like what I should be serving to my guests! By the way, your photos are so crisp and beautiful – I love them! Great job on the photography. I have some bourbon in my pantry that’s wanting a bit of TLC … ;)
Thanks so much Jessiker! Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving!
Better yet, you can use cocktail cranberries instead of the fresh berries. They can be muddled to add color and flavor. Check out Lounge Attire Cocktail Cranberries.
Cocktail cranberries? I never knew those existed. I must try to find them pronto! Thanks for the info :)
I know that Bevmo carries them. The website is loungeattire.com
Look at that color! This maybe my favorite lemonade ever. Definitely going to make it. But i’m afraid the color won’t be as beautiful as yours. Any good tips?