This Fresh Cranberry Vodka Cocktail with Rosemary is simpler than you think – grab a bag of zesty cranberries and a bottle of your favorite vodka. But here’s the twist: blend these with homemade rosemary simple syrup to create a festive holiday cocktail!
Ah, a festive cocktail recipe is always in order, so I decided to create a riff of my favorite Raindrop Cocktail by working with fresh cranberries. The result? Fresh cranberry vodka cocktail – it’s like a little party in a glass! The tartness of fresh cranberries mingles perfectly with the smooth, clean taste of vodka. It’s an ideal Vodka Cranberry Cocktail for those who love a bit of a twist in their drink, bringing a burst of tangy flavor that can elevate any holiday gathering or holiday party.
So, whether you’re mixing up a batch of holiday cocktails for a special celebration or just unwinding after a long day, fresh cranberry vodka spritzer is your go-to for a drink that’s as delightful as it is simple to make. Cheers to that!
Table of Contents
Reasons to Love This Cocktail
- Fresh cranberry vodka offers a crisp, refreshing taste that’s perfect for quenching thirst and revitalizing the senses.
- This recipe’s charm lies in its simplicity, using easily accessible ingredients.
- Whether it’s a casual get-together or a festive celebration, the fresh cranberry vodka fits any event with its elegant yet playful vibe.
- With natural cranberry juice and no artificial flavors, it’s a healthier option compared to many sugary drinks.
Recipe Ingredients
- Fresh Cranberries: Used both in the infusion process and as a garnish.
- Vodka: This forms the alcoholic base of the drink.
- White Sugar: Essential for adding sweetness to balance the tartness of the cranberries.
- Rosemary Sprigs: Used for both infusion and garnish, rosemary adds a subtle, aromatic depth to the drink.
- Sparkling Water: This adds a refreshing fizz to the cocktail, lightening the drink.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations
- Cranberry Lime Vodka: Add a little lime juice and garnish with a lime wedge for a zesty twist. The tangy lime complements the cranberries, creating a refreshing and vibrant flavor.
- Cranberry Orange Twist: Blend in orange juice for a fruity and slightly tangy variation with citrusy notes.
- Spiced Cranberry Vodka: Add a cinnamon stick into the making of the rosemary syrup in Step 3 (and discard the stick with the rosemary sprigs when complete) for a festive, spiced version.
How to Make Fresh Cranberry Vodka Cocktails
Step #1: Place the cranberries in the pitcher of a blender along with two cups of water. Blend on high until completely pureed with no large chunks remaining. Refrigerate overnight to infuse the cranberry flavor into the water and make the cranberry juice.
Step #2: Strain the liquid from the cranberry pulp using a fine mesh strainer; you should collect two cups of cranberry juice. Save the cranberry pulp for later.
Step #3: Meanwhile, place ½ cup sugar, ½ cup water, and 6 sprigs of fresh rosemary in a small saucepan set over medium heat. Bring to a boil; boil until the sugar has dissolved. Turn off the heat and allow it to cool. Remove rosemary sprigs and discard.
Step #4: Return the saved cranberry pulp to the blender pitcher along with the cup of vodka. Blend well, and strain to get cranberry-infused vodka. Now you can discard the cranberry pulp.
Step #5: Mix the cranberry-infused vodka with the cranberry juice to make three cups of liquid. Stir in the cooled rosemary syrup.
Step #6: Divide the ice into eight 8-ounce rock glasses (½ cup each). Top each glass with just shy of ¼ cup of the cranberry mix (3 and ¾ ounces).
Step #7: Top each glass with one ounce of sparkling water. Stir gently, and garnish with fresh cranberries and rosemary sprigs.
Expert Tips
- Optimal Infusion Time: For the best flavor, ensure the cranberries are thoroughly pureed and allow the mixture to infuse in the refrigerator overnight. This step is crucial for developing a deep, rich cranberry flavor in the juice.
- Achieve a Smooth Consistency: After blending the cranberry-vodka mix, strain it well to remove any remaining pulp or seeds. This will give your drink a smoother texture and a more polished appearance.
- Use Hermetic Flasks for Parties or Gifts: Consider using Hermetic Flasks for giving these as gifts. This cranberry rosemary cocktail recipe is designed to fill three 8.5-ounce hermetic flasks, which happen to be super gorgeous and fun to bring to a party. Simply bring along some sparkling water, and either rely on the host having ice or come prepared by bringing an ice bucket and a bag of ice. Just look how pretty the bottles are with some simple twine and a sprig of rosemary!
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s a cocktail made with vodka infused with fresh cranberries, often sweetened and enhanced with ingredients like rosemary and sparkling water.
Yes, frozen cranberries work well as a substitute for fresh cranberries in this recipe.
Absolutely, just replace the vodka with sparkling water or a non-alcoholic spirit for a mocktail version.
A smooth, high-quality vodka is recommended for the best flavor.
This depends on the proportion of vodka used per serving, typically around 1 ounce per glass.
Storage Info
To store a fresh cranberry vodka cocktail, put it in a tightly sealed bottle or container in the refrigerator, where it will remain good for up to two weeks. The fridge preserves the freshness of the cranberries and the quality of the vodka.
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Fresh Cranberry Vodka Cocktail with Rosemary Recipe
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Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh cranberries - plus more for garnish
- 1 cup vodka
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 6 sprigs rosemary - plus more for garnish
- 8 ounces sparkling water
- 4 cups ice
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Place the cranberries in the pitcher of a blender along with two cups of water. Blend on high until completely pureed with no large chunks remaining. Refrigerate overnight to infuse the cranberry flavor into the water and make the cranberry juice.
- Strain the liquid from the cranberry pulp; you should collect two cups of cranberry juice. Save the cranberry pulp for later.
- Meanwhile, place ½ cup sugar, ½ cup water, and 6 sprigs of fresh rosemary in a small saucepan set over medium heat. Bring to a boil; boil until the sugar has dissolved. Turn off the heat and allow it to cool. Remove rosemary sprigs and discard.
- Return the saved cranberry pulp to the blender pitcher along with the cup of vodka. Blend well, and strain to get cranberry-infused vodka. Now you can discard the cranberry pulp.
- Mix the cranberry-infused vodka with the cranberry juice to make three cups of liquid. Stir in the cooled rosemary syrup.
- Divide the ice into eight 8-ounce rock glasses (½ cup each). Top each glass with just shy of ¼ cup of the cranberry mix (3 and ¾ ounces).
- Top each glass with one ounce of sparkling water. Stir gently, and garnish with fresh cranberries and rosemary sprigs.
NOTES
Nutrition
Enjoy Responsibly. This post and recipe are intended for those of legal drinking age.
can frozen cranberries be used?
Yes
What a festive and refreshing drink! I made this with fresh cranberries from the market, and it turned out absolutely delicious.
I’m hoping you can help me, wanting to make this tomorrow. I’m confused on the straining part, when you say “Return the pulp to the blender pitcher along with the cup of vodka.” Is this the juice that was strained originally, or the pulp that was collected in the strainer? Because it then says, “Blend well, strain, and mix the vodka with the collected juice to make three cups of liquid.” It’s now talking about the collected juice. I’m assuming the pulp is a separate thing than the juice collected?
Hi Mikayla, thank you for the question. The answer to your question is that it is the pulp that was collected to mix in the blender with the vodka. I have added more details to the recipe instructions to clarify this. Basically, you blend the cranberries with water to create cranberry juice and set the juice aside. Then you re-blend the cranberry pulp with the vodka to make cranberry infused vodka. At this point, you can throw out the pulp and just mix in the cranberry juice with the infused vodka and the flavored simple syrup.