I made a Cranberry Old Fashioned spiced with cinnamon, starring bourbon-soaked cranberries, orange bitters, and silky simple syrup for the holidays.

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I can never leave a classic alone, so I gave the Old Fashioned a holiday nudge and ended up with a cinnamon spiced Cranberry Old Fashioned that’s sharper than you’d expect and oddly addictive. I muddle a few bourbon soaked cranberries for depth and stir with a cinnamon stick so the drink smells like a secret hearth without being cloying.

It’s the kind of cocktail that makes you rethink your Old Fashioned Garnish Ideas, and you might catch yourself wishing you’d made a batch for company, even if you drink it alone. Trust me, it’s the tweak you didn’t know you wanted.

Ingredients

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Bourbon: Warm caramel and oak, gives heat and mellow sweetness; zero fiber, mainly alcohol calories.
Simple syrup: White sugar dissolved in water, makes cocktail sweet and smooth; adds carbs, no fiber.
Orange bitters: Concentrated citrus and bitter notes, gives pop and complexity, almost no calories or nutrients.
Bourbon soaked cranberries: Tart cranberries soaked in bourbon get jammy; bring tartness, vitamin C and antioxidants.
Cinnamon stick: Adds warm spice and scent, makes drink feel cozy; minimal calories, no protein or fiber.
Orange peel: Zesty oils brighten aroma and taste, gives fresh citrus lift; negligible calories or nutrients.
Ice: Big cubes chill and dilute slowly so flavors open up; just water, no nutrients.

Ingredient Quantities

2 oz bourbon

1/2 oz simple syrup

2 dashes orange bitters

3 to 4 bourbon soaked cranberries for muddling and garnish

1 cinnamon stick for stir and garnish

1 large strip orange peel, for garnish

Ice (large cube or several cubes)

For bourbon soaked cranberries: 1 cup fresh cranberries, 1/2 cup bourbon, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 strip orange peel

For simple syrup: 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 cup water

How to Make this

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1. Make the simple syrup: combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan, heat until the sugar dissolves, cool to room temp and refrigerate.

2. Make the bourbon soaked cranberries: in a jar add 1 cup fresh cranberries, 1/2 cup bourbon, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1 cinnamon stick and 1 strip orange peel; seal, shake and chill at least 12 to 24 hours, longer if you want deeper flavor.

3. When ready to mix, drop 3 to 4 bourbon soaked cranberries into a rocks glass or mixing glass.

4. Add 1/2 oz simple syrup and 2 dashes orange bitters over the cranberries.

5. Gently muddle the cranberries just enough to release juices and flavor, don’t pulverize the seeds or you’ll get bitterness.

6. Pour in 2 oz bourbon, then add a large ice cube or several regular cubes.

7. Stir about 20 to 30 seconds until the drink is well chilled and slightly diluted; use the cinnamon stick to stir if you want a little extra spice.

8. Express the oils from the large strip of orange peel over the glass by pinching and rubbing it on the rim, then drop the peel in for aroma.

9. Garnish with the used cinnamon stick and 1 or 2 of the bourbon soaked cranberries (skewer them if you like), serve over the big cube and enjoy.

Equipment Needed

1. Small saucepan for making the simple syrup
2. Jar with tight fitting lid for the bourbon soaked cranberries
3. Jigger or measuring spoons for 2 oz, 1/2 oz and dashes, so you get the ratios right
4. Muddler or a sturdy wooden spoon to gently mash the cranberries
5. Rocks glass or mixing glass to build and serve the drink
6. Long bar spoon or the cinnamon stick to stir about 20 to 30 seconds
7. Peeler or small sharp knife and cutting board for the large orange peel
8. Large ice cube mold or ice tray plus tongs or scoop and a cocktail pick for garnish

FAQ

Q: How long should I soak the cranberries in bourbon? A: At least 2 hours will soften them, but overnight is way better for flavor. Store them in the fridge and use within about 2 weeks.

Q: How do I make the simple syrup and how long does it keep? A: Heat equal parts sugar and water until the sugar dissolves, cool it down, then refrigerate. It'll last about 2 weeks.

Q: Can I swap the bourbon for another spirit? A: Sure, rye whiskey works great and gives a spicier edge, vodka will make it more neutral but you lose that warm bourbon flavor. If you want the recipe’s character stick with bourbon.

Q: How many cranberries do I muddle and do I need to remove seeds? A: Use 3 to 4 bourbon soaked cranberries for muddling like the recipe says. They’re soft so seeds usually arent a problem, but if youre picky strain or pick them out before serving.

Q: What ice should I use and how long do I stir the drink? A: One large cube or a few big cubes are best so the drink chills without watering down too fast. Stir 20 to 30 seconds with the cinnamon stick to chill and marry the flavors.

Q: Can I make this cocktail ahead for a party? A: Yes, pre-mix bourbon, simple syrup and bitters in a pitcher and keep chilled up to a week. Dont add ice or muddled fruit till just before serving or it will get too diluted.

Bourbon Cranberry Old Fashioned Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Bourbon substitute: try rye whiskey for a spicier, peppery edge, dark rum for deeper molasses and caramel notes, or anejo tequila for warm oak and vanilla. Use the same 2 oz and youll get a different but balanced base.
Simple syrup substitute: honey syrup (warm equal parts honey and water), pure maple syrup for an autumn vibe, or agave nectar; start with 1/2 oz and adjust to taste.
Orange bitters substitute: swap for 2 dashes Angostura plus a splash of orange liqueur like Cointreau, or use orange curaçao, or just muddle a bit of orange zest with the sugar for bright citrus.
Bourbon soaked cranberries substitute: use dried cranberries softened in bourbon or brandy, or muddle fresh cranberries with a splash of cranberry juice and sugar, or sub brandied cherries for an easier, sweeter garnish.

Pro Tips

– Muddle like a gentle person, not a meat grinder. Just bruise the cranberries enough to release juice, dont mash the seeds or youll get bitterness. If you worry about seeds, give the muddled mix a quick strain through a fine mesh before you finish the drink.

– Ice and dilution matter more than most folks think. A big clear cube will chill slower and keep the drink from watering down, regular cubes will dilute faster, so chill your mixing glass and taste as you go, you can always add a little more ice if it needs taming.

– Use the cinnamon stick as a flavor tool, not just decoration. Stir slowly with it to coax out warm spice, dont stir like youre trying to win a race or the stick might splinter, and over time it will subtly change the drink so serve soon if you want the original balance.

– Taste and tweak, theres no shame in adjusting. Soaked cranberries, syrup strength, even the bourbon proof will change how sweet or boozy it ends up, so add bitters, a splash of water, or a tiny squeeze of citrus to fix imbalance, little changes go a long way.

Bourbon Cranberry Old Fashioned Recipe

Recipe by Sam Ecclestone

0.0 from 0 votes

I made a Cranberry Old Fashioned spiced with cinnamon, starring bourbon-soaked cranberries, orange bitters, and silky simple syrup for the holidays.

Servings

servings

Calories

210

kcal

Equipment: 1. Small saucepan for making the simple syrup
2. Jar with tight fitting lid for the bourbon soaked cranberries
3. Jigger or measuring spoons for 2 oz, 1/2 oz and dashes, so you get the ratios right
4. Muddler or a sturdy wooden spoon to gently mash the cranberries
5. Rocks glass or mixing glass to build and serve the drink
6. Long bar spoon or the cinnamon stick to stir about 20 to 30 seconds
7. Peeler or small sharp knife and cutting board for the large orange peel
8. Large ice cube mold or ice tray plus tongs or scoop and a cocktail pick for garnish

Ingredients

2 oz bourbon
1/2 oz simple syrup
2 dashes orange bitters
3 to 4 bourbon soaked cranberries for muddling and garnish
1 cinnamon stick for stir and garnish
1 large strip orange peel, for garnish
Ice (large cube or several cubes)
For bourbon soaked cranberries: 1 cup fresh cranberries, 1/2 cup bourbon, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 strip orange peel
For simple syrup: 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 cup water

Directions

Make the simple syrup: combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan, heat until the sugar dissolves, cool to room temp and refrigerate.
Make the bourbon soaked cranberries: in a jar add 1 cup fresh cranberries, 1/2 cup bourbon, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1 cinnamon stick and 1 strip orange peel; seal, shake and chill at least 12 to 24 hours, longer if you want deeper flavor.
When ready to mix, drop 3 to 4 bourbon soaked cranberries into a rocks glass or mixing glass.
Add 1/2 oz simple syrup and 2 dashes orange bitters over the cranberries.
Gently muddle the cranberries just enough to release juices and flavor, don't pulverize the seeds or you'll get bitterness.
Pour in 2 oz bourbon, then add a large ice cube or several regular cubes.
Stir about 20 to 30 seconds until the drink is well chilled and slightly diluted; use the cinnamon stick to stir if you want a little extra spice.
Express the oils from the large strip of orange peel over the glass by pinching and rubbing it on the rim, then drop the peel in for aroma.
Garnish with the used cinnamon stick and 1 or 2 of the bourbon soaked cranberries (skewer them if you like), serve over the big cube and enjoy.

Notes

Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.