This easy cocktail recipe is perfect for your holiday parties. It’s not only beautiful to look at, but it tastes like Christmas in a cup. Bourbon based, this festive cocktail gets punchy flavor from a splash of cranberry juice and charred orange. It’s sweetened only with a touch of cranberry infused honey, and is a gorgeous addition to your next gathering.
Make the cranberry honey syrup. Put 1/2 cup of cranberry-infused honey into a small saucepan with 1/2 cup of water and 1/4 cup of fresh or frozen whole cranberries. Heat over medium and bring to a low simmer until the cranberries start to pop. Remove from heat and mash the cranberries with a fork. Let mixture cool to room temperature and strain out the cranberries. You will have enough honey cranberry syrup for approximately 8 cocktails.
Make the charred orange slices. Coat two orange slices in sugar on both sides. Place them in a dry, non stick skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes until browned on both sides. Set aside to cool.
Measure out 4 ounces of bourbon and pour into an ice filled cocktail shaker.
Add 2 ounces each of cranberry juice and honey cranberry syrup to the shaker. Top the shaker with the lid and shake vigorously to combine.
Pour cocktail evenly into two, ice-filled lowball glasses. top with a dash or two of bitters. Garnish with the charred orange slices and fresh cranberries.
Notes
If you don't have or can't find cranberry honey, that's ok. The additional cranberries in the honey will still infuse it with flavor and color. Also, you don’t need to break the bank here for fancy sipping bourbon because this is a mixed drink, but it should be a bourbon that you enjoy.To pre-batch for 8: Mix 2 cups of bourbon, the entire batch of cranberry honey syrup, and 1 cup of cranberry juice into a large pitcher and stir well to combine. Char 8 slices of orange, and place in bowl. Arrange a platter with the cocktail pitcher, orange slices, toothpicks threaded with fresh cranberries, a bucket of ice, 8 lowball glasses and a bottle of bitters so guests can help themselves.