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Home » Recipes » Beverages

Published: Nov 22, 2021 · Modified: Apr 25, 2023 by Amanda McGrory-Dixon

Spiced Cranberry Bourbon Sour

Jump to Recipe

This is for you, whiskey lovers — meet the spiced cranberry bourbon sour that will be your new favorite holiday cocktail! Made with a fresh cranberry simple syrup infused with orange zest, this frothy cranberry whiskey cocktail perfectly balances tart notes with caramel-like bourbon for one complex drink. You’ll want to make this your signature cocktail all throughout the holiday season.

A spiced cranberry bourbon sour on a wooden board with candles and sugared cranberries around it.
Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Step-by-Step Instructions
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Expert Tips
  • Perfect Pairing
  • Looking for More Holiday Cranberry Cocktails?
  • 📖 Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

That spiced cranberry simple syrup: This isn't any cranberry simple syrup. My cranberry simple syrup includes a medley of warm spices and fresh orange zest to ramp up the flavor. You'll want to add it to every holiday cocktail.

Oh-so smooth bourbon, how we love you: With the cranberry and fresh lemon, this cocktail has plenty of tart notes, but then ultra smooth bourbon whiskey with its vanilla and caramel flavors add a beautiful richness.

Makes an impressive presentation: Thanks to that frothy topping, this cranberry bourbon sour is as lovely as it is delicious. When entertaining during the holiday season, it's all about ambiance, and this festive cocktail perfectly sets the mood and makes you look like an expert mixologist.

Perfect from the early days of fall through New Year’s Eve: This is such a fun but busy time of year. Let's make your life easier by giving you a signature cocktail that works, so you don't have to spend this hectic time searching for a new recipe for every occasion. Make this your go-to cranberry whiskey cocktail.

Bonus: You clearly love seasonal drinks, so you may also want to check out my collection of best Thanksgiving cocktails and festive Christmas cocktails!

Ingredients

The cranberry bourbon sour ingredients with labels on a wooden board.

And now let's chat about a few recipe notes.

Cranberry simple syrup: My homemade cranberry syrup includes water, sugar, cinnamon sticks, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, cloves and orange zest. Could you skip the spices and orange zest? Sure, but I don't recommend it -- those ingredients are what makes this cocktail so special.

Bourbon: Don't feel like you need to spend a fortune. A good mid-range bourbon is perfect. Maker's Mark, Elijah Craig, Buffalo Trace and Four Roses distill delicious options.

Bitters: I just love the flavor of orange with cranberry, so I like to use orange bitters. That said, if you only have angostura bitters on hand, which is more common, that works just fine.

Egg white: If you're new to mixology, an egg white may seem strange, but it's actually a common cocktail ingredient. This is what gives us that frothy, silky topping. Don't worry -- you can't taste it.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: We grab our trusty cocktail shaker and add the bourbon, spiced cranberry simple syrup, bitters, fresh lemon juice and egg white (photo 1).

Adding the spiced cranberry simple syrup to a cocktail shaker.

Step 2: Now we put on the top and shake for 30 seconds (photo 2). You'll notice I didn't mention ice. This is called a dry shake, which we want to do first when making an egg white cocktail to whip in more air and create an even frothier topping.

Doing a dry shake of the cocktail without the ice.

Step 3: Now we take off the top and add a handful of ice (photo 3). After adding some air, we're ready to chill our cocktail because no one wants a room-temperature drink.

Adding ice to the cocktail shaker after the dry shake.

Step 4: And now we give it another shake (photo 4). For cocktails without egg white, 15-30 seconds of shake time is standard. However, we're still building that frothy topping. Plan to shake for at least a minute, but don't be afraid to go up to two minutes. It will be worth it when you pour out that heavenly topping.

Shaking the cocktail the second time with the ice to chill.

Step 5: And just like that, we're ready to strain our spiced cranberry bourbon whiskey sour into a chilled glass. Now toast to this festive time of year!

Related: And for more sour cocktails, check out my maple whiskey sour, Aperol sour, tequila sour and rum sour.

The cranberry bourbon sour with sugared cranberries and decor around it.

Recipe FAQs

What’s the difference between bourbon and whiskey?

All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. According to the American Bourbon Association, bourbon must be distilled from at least 51 percent corn while whiskey can come from a single grain. The corn gives bourbon its signature sweeter flavor, and then the other grains used add a level of complexity.

After distilling, bourbon must be aged in new charred oak barrels with no additives for at least two years. Other whiskeys, however, can age in used barrels and contain coloring and flavor additives.

Could you substitute a whiskey for bourbon in this recipe? Absolutely. But bourbon is my personal favorite choice.

Is it safe to use raw egg whites in drinks?

Inevitably, a raw egg white comes with some risk, but rest assured, it’s minimal. To safely use egg whites in cocktail recipes, buy inspected eggs with no cracks and keep them in the original container toward the back of the refrigerator. Pasteurized eggs also offer extra safety precaution.

Of course, you can always skip the egg whites if you don't feel comfortable using them. You won't get the frothy topping, but it will still be a delicious cocktail. If you go that route, you can skip the dry shake and only shake with ice for 15-30 seconds.

Can you make ahead of time?

The egg white topping must be made right before serving; however, you can make the cocktail base ahead of time. That way, you can more quickly whip up batches if serving a few friends. You can find proportions and directions in the notes section of the recipe card.

What's the best glassware for a sour cocktail?

You can't go wrong with a sour glass. These glasses are designed with an outwardly curved edge to guide that egg white topping to slide onto your tongue and push the fragrance to your nose. Plus, they're oh-so pretty!

That said, a coupe glass and even a martini glass work just fine as substitutes.

How do you chill a cocktail glass?

To chill your serving glass, I like to rely on two methods -- one requires some planning ahead, and the other works if you whip up a cocktail on a whim.

If you have some time, place the glass in the freezer 30 minutes before serving. Alternatively, you can fill the glass with cold water and ice as you mix the cocktail. After mixing the cocktail, stir the ice water for 30 seconds and then dump. Now you have a perfectly chilled glass.

Expert Tips

  • Cranberries are only available October through January, but you can throw a few bags of cranberries in your freezer to make this cocktail year-round. No need to thaw before making the simple syrup.
  • Feel free to make the cranberry simple syrup well ahead of time. It will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several weeks.
  • You really want to use freshly squeezed lemon juice rather than bottled juice. The bottle juice isn't nearly as bright, and for a good sour, we want those full tart notes.
  • Before juicing the lemon, firmly roll it on the countertop a few times. This helps get the juice flowing. Also, pick a lemon that has a little give to it when you squeeze it to ensure to not too dried out.
  • Some cocktail shakers don't seal very well without ice. If your cocktail shaker leaks during the dry shake, you might want to wrap a kitchen towel around it for the first shake.
  • If you love this drink, make sure you also try my cranberry old fashioned!

Perfect Pairing

You cannot go wrong with my Christmas roast duck with cranberry-orange glaze with this spiced cranberry bourbon sour. Duck is a rich meat that demands a drink that can hold up to its bold, gamey flavor, and bourbon is up to the job. The cranberry glaze also makes for an obvious match.

My apple cider short ribs and apple cider pot roast are also delicious pairings. Like the duck, both are big meats, and the spice from the apple cider is perfect with the cranberry and orange.

For the perfect holiday whiskey drink, I hope you try my spiced cranberry bourbon sour. It's sure to be a hit at all your festive gatherings.

Cheers!

A close-up shot of the cranberry bourbon sour with candles and decor to the side.

Looking for More Holiday Cranberry Cocktails?

  • A sparkling cranberry-ginger margarita with sugared cranberries to the side and holiday lights behind it.
    Sparkling Cranberry-Ginger Margarita
  • Two cranberry mimosa drinks on a wintry white surface with a bottle of Champagne and Christmas decor surrounding them.
    Spiced Cranberry Mimosa for Christmas Morning
  • A cranberry bourbon smash with Christmas decor and a bottle of bourbon in the background.
    Chai-Cranberry Bourbon Smash
  • A wine glass filled with holiday sangria on a fluffy white piece of fabric with lights in the background and cranberries to the left.
    Holiday Sangria With Cranberry and Apple Cider

If you love this recipe, please leave a comment with a five-star rating — or simply hit the five-star button in the recipe card. Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter, and you can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok.

📖 Recipe

A spiced cranberry bourbon sour on a wooden board with candles and sugared cranberries around it.

Spiced Cranberry Bourbon Sour

This is for you, whiskey lovers — meet the spiced cranberry bourbon sour that will be your new favorite holiday cocktail! Made with a fresh cranberry simple syrup infused with orange zest, this frothy cranberry whiskey cocktail perfectly balances tart notes with caramel-like bourbon for one complex drink. You’ll want to make this your signature cocktail all throughout the holiday season.
5 from 143 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Beverages
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Steeping Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
Servings: 1 drink
Calories: 271kcal
Author: Amanda McGrory-Dixon

Equipment

  • Small saucepan
  • Fine-mesh sieve
  • Cocktail shaker
  • Citrus juicer

Ingredients

Spiced Cranberry Simple Syrup

  • 2 cups fresh cranberries
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg preferably freshly grated
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
  • Pinch of ground cloves

Spiced Cranberry Bourbon Sour

  • 1 egg white
  • 2 ounces bourbon
  • 1 ounce spiced cranberry simple syrup
  • 1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2-3 dashes orange bitters
  • Ice
  • Sugared cranberries for garnish, optional (see notes)

Instructions

Spiced Cranberry Simple Syrup

  • In a small saucepan, add the cranberries, water, sugar, cinnamon sticks, orange zest, ground ginger, nutmeg and cloves over medium-high heat.
  • Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Turn off heat and allow the mixture to steep for another 10 minutes.
  • Place a bowl under a fine-mesh sieve. Strain the syrup in the fine-mesh sieve. Store the cranberry simple syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several weeks.

Spiced Cranberry Bourbon Sour

  • Add the egg white, bourbon, spiced cranberry simple syrup, lemon juice and bitters to a cocktail shaker with no ice. Put on the top and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
  • Remove the top and now add a handful of ice. Place the top back on and shake vigorously for one to two minutes to build up the frothy topping.
  • Strain into a chilled sour, coupe or martini glass. Garnish with sugared cranberries if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

  • If you'd like to make a 12-serving batch ahead of time, stir together 3 cups bourbon, 1 ½ cups cranberry simple syrup and 1 ½ cups lemon juice together in a pitcher and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When you're ready to serve, add 4 ounces of the bourbon mixture per drink to the cocktail shaker along with the bitters and egg white. Proceed with the rest of the recipe. I recommend making one to two drinks at a time.
  • To make the optional sugared cranberry garnish, add ¼ cup sugar and ¼ cup water over medium-high heat to a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer and stir to dissolve sugar. Once the sugar dissolves, stir in the cranberries and turn off the heat. Make sure they're well-coated with the simple syrup. On a large plate, spread another ¼ cup sugar. Drain the cranberries and roll in the sugar. Allow to set on a wire rack for about an hour to dry.
  • Cranberries are only available October through January, but you can throw a few bags of cranberries in your freezer to make this cocktail year-round. No need to thaw before making the simple syrup.
  • You really want to use freshly squeezed lemon juice rather than bottled juice. The bottle juice isn't nearly as bright, and for a good sour, we want those full tart notes.
  • Before juicing the lemon, firmly roll it on the countertop a few times. This helps get the juice flowing. Pick a lemon that has a little give to it when you squeeze it to ensure to not too dried out.
  • Some cocktail shakers don't seal very well without ice. If your cocktail shaker leaks during the dry shake, you might want to wrap a kitchen towel around it for the first shake.
  • Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1drink | Calories: 271kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 72mg | Potassium: 180mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @BurrataandBubbles or tag #burratandbubbles!

Google Web Story: Cranberry Whiskey Sour

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Comments

    5 from 143 votes (122 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Corinn says

    December 21, 2022 at 3:24 pm

    5 stars
    Just made these tonight and oh my goodness….they are wonderful! This rivals any fancy cocktail we have ever ordered at a bar! I highly recommend this recipe! Delicious and well balanced.

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      December 21, 2022 at 4:16 pm

      Aww, thank you so much for the sweet comment, Corinn! I'm so happy you loved it. Happy holidays!

      Reply
  2. David says

    November 22, 2022 at 7:02 pm

    4 stars
    I can’t really taste the cranberry syrup in this. I wonder if I did something wrong or if I should increase the amount I put in(I did forget the orange zest, but I don’t think that’s it). Still did the job, very delicious whiskey sour.

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      November 23, 2022 at 11:50 am

      Hi, David! I’m sorry the cranberry flavor wasn’t as strong as you hoped. Maybe it’s just one of those personal preference things, but I’m glad you enjoyed it overall!

      Reply
  3. Aleta says

    December 06, 2021 at 9:15 am

    5 stars
    My partner and I were just talking about drinks to make for the Christmas season, and then I happened to stumble across your recipe. It looks so incredible, absolutely perfect to impress our guests. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      December 06, 2021 at 3:30 pm

      You are so welcome, Aleta!

      Reply
  4. Tammy says

    December 05, 2021 at 2:37 pm

    5 stars
    I'm loving the flavors of this drink. I love whiskey sours so I know this cocktail is right up my alley. So refreshing and so beautiful too.

    Reply
  5. Lauren Michael Harris says

    December 03, 2021 at 7:27 am

    5 stars
    Umm yep...I am sending this recipe to my husband to make for use asap! I've been telling him I want all the cranberry drinks and this sour is definitely my kinda drink!

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      December 06, 2021 at 10:56 am

      Hope y'all loved it! It's been my go-to for the last couple of months.

      Reply
  6. Veronika says

    December 02, 2021 at 11:25 am

    5 stars
    This cocktail was absolutely delicious! Made it last night, and my hubby and I both loved it!

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      December 06, 2021 at 10:42 am

      I'm so glad to hear that!

      Reply
« Older Comments

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Hi, I'm Amanda, a Denver-based lady who believes life is best spent with comforting meals, tasty beverages and good company. When I'm not playing in the kitchen, I'm probably exploring new breweries with my husband, Matt, or obsessing over my adorable dog, Baylor.

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A headshot of Amanda, the owner of Burrata and Bubbles, holding a beer.

Hi, I'm Amanda, a Denver-based lady who believes life is best spent with comforting meals, tasty beverages and good company. When I'm not playing in the kitchen, I'm probably exploring new breweries with my husband, Matt, or obsessing over my adorable dog, Baylor.

More about me →

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