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.
Save yourself time and buy unsweetened cranberry juice.
I made this yesterday as we decorated our tree. Absolutely delicious! And I am definitely inspired to make a large batch and give as gifts. So festive! Cheers!
Hi Nicole,
Yes! Happy Holidays!
– Linda
YUMMMM… love these variations using all the holiday flavors! Can’t wait to try this one!
Do you have to let the cranberry and water sit overnight or can u skip this step?
Hi, Shellye – this step allows the water to extract the cranberry flavors. I haven’t tried it without the overnight soak, but you might see if just 3 or 4 hours does the job.
I love this idea and am planning to make it for New Year’s Eve. Are the bottles you feature leak-proof? I was considering mailing some as gifts. Thank you!
Hi Luann,
The bottles are leak proof. For mailing them, I would wrap them good with bubble wrap, stand them up and put fragile on them and put an arrows around the box showing to keep the box upright and I think you will be good if they don’t get broken.
– Linda
These look fantastic! I was wondering if I could mix and store in cute bottles, or if I need to store it all separately? These would be great if I could make them a week or so ahead of time!
Hi, Coir – these should be good for a week in the fridge, but seeing as you’ll likely want to give the recipient some time to enjoy it, it would be better to wait to make it. The rosemary simple syrup and cranberry-infused vodka should last in the fridge for a good couple of months, but the cranberry ‘juice’ (fresh cranberries blended with water) may only last a week or so.