Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour

This cranberry orange whiskey sour is a tasty spin on the classic cocktail! Cranberry juice adds a tart fruity finish to the drink.

Here’s a spin on the classic whiskey sour that will have everyone talking: try this cranberry orange whiskey sour! This fruity combination is perfect for winter and fall cocktails, or if you’re looking to use extra cranberry juice. The bright berries add a fruity, tart intensity to the finish of each sip. Paired with bourbon, fresh orange and lemon juice, and maple syrup, it makes the best signature drink!

Cranberry orange whiskey sour ingredients

This cranberry orange whiskey sour is a play on the Whiskey Sour, an iconic drink that goes back centuries. The earliest mention of the drink in literature was in the 1870’s, meaning this cocktail existed much before most classic cocktails that appeared in the 1910’s and 20’s.

• Whiskey (we prefer bourbon for a cranberry bourbon sour)
• Fresh-squeezed orange juice
• Fresh lemon juice
• Unsweetened cranberry juice
• Simple syrup or maple syrup
• Orange wheel or twist, cocktail cherry or cranberries, for garnish

Sweetened vs unsweetened cranberry juice

For cranberry cocktails, we prefer using unsweetened cranberry juice instead of cranberry juice cocktail, which is sweetened. Because it’s a small quantity of cranberry juice (¾ ounce), you can use either here. If all you can find is the sweetened version, it will make for a slightly sweeter drink.

• Sweetened cranberry juice aka cranberry juice cocktail, has added sugars and sometimes high-fructose corn syrup as sweetener. It is the type used for classic cranberry cocktails of the past, like the Vodka Cranberry.
• 100% cranberry juice is easy to find at your local grocery store. The benefit? The color is brighter, and you can sweeten your drink to taste.

Egg white foam optional!

Bartenders have added egg whites to cocktails since the 1860’s to add a frothy texture to the top and a creamy rich flavor to each sip. It’s customary to have an egg white foam on a sour, so if you’d like you can add that to this cranberry orange whiskey sour! You can make the best frothy egg white foam using 1 egg white with the drink ingredients and a technique called a dry shake: shaking the cocktail ingredients without ice first. Here’s how it works:

• The first shake without ice lets the protein in the egg begin to form foam, instead of being diluted by the ice.
• The second shake with ice cools the drink and strengthens the foam. Strain it into the glass and you’ll get a thick, white frothy layer.
• Go to Whiskey Sour with Egg White for the full technique!

Step it up with clear ice

Want to make a professional-looking cranberry orange whiskey sour? Use clear ice. These large, crystal clear ice cubes make your drink look like it’s from a fancy bar, vs the cloudy ice cubes that come from an ice try. They’re perfect for stepping up this drink. Here’s how to do it:

• Make clear ice in a small cooler. Go to How to Make Clear Ice for instructions! The cooler just needs to fit inside your freezer.
• Use a clear ice tray. We use this clear ice tray and it works well! It also fits easily into your freezer.

More fall cocktails

This cranberry orange whiskey sour is the perfect signature drink for the season, from Thanksgiving to Halloween or any fall gathering. There are so many great fall cocktails, especially fall bourbon cocktails! Here are a few more tasty fall cocktails with bourbon:

• Go for a Maple Old Fashioned
• Try a Hot Toddy or Bourbon Hot Toddy
• Make a Gold Rush or Apple Cider and Whiskey
• Opt for this Apple Cider Cocktail

01

Apple Cider Cocktail

02

Maple Old Fashioned

03

Bourbon Hot Toddy

04

Gold Rush Cocktail

This cranberry orange whiskey sour is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

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