Cranberry manhattan: a holiday cocktail

Festive cranberry manhattan recipe! A vibrant holiday cocktail that is perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas celebrations.

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword autumn manhattan cocktail

Prep Time 10

Total Time 10

Servings cocktail

Calories 189kcal

Rub the outside of the orange peel around the rim of a martini or cocktail glass. Drop the orange peel into your cocktail glass or discard it.
1 small piece of orange peel
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the whiskey, cranberry juice, vermouth, and bitters.
large handful of ice for shaker, 2 ounces rye, bourbon, or whiskey, 1 ounce sweetened cranberry juice, 1 ounce sweet vermouth, 2 dashes angostura bitters
Shake well, until the shaker becomes very cold, about 20-30 seconds.
Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with frozen cranberry skewers and the orange peel.
frozen or sugared cranberries (optional for garnish)

Level up the whiskey: swap the whiskey and cranberry juice for 3 ounces of homemade cranberry orange infused bourbon!

Customize the sweetness: If you prefer a sweeter cocktail, simply add a bit more cranberry juice. For those who like it less sweet, go for unsweetened cranberry juice.

Choose your whiskey: whiskey choice plays a significant role in the cocktail's flavor. While rye whiskey is the classic choice, feel free to experiment with other whiskey varieties like bourbon or even a smoky scotch. Just choose one that you enjoy.

Add more orange: squeeze a bit of fresh orange juice into the cocktail or try orange bitters rather than angostura bitters for more orange flavor.

Sip it: Finally, the most important tip is to savor every sip. This one is meant to be enjoyed slowly, allowing you to slow down and enjoy the magic of the holiday season. Cheers!