Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour

The holidays call for something special, and this cranberry orange whiskey sour delivers every time. I love how the tart cranberries balance the sweet orange juice, while the whiskey brings everything together with that cozy warmth we crave this time of year. This twist on a classic whiskey sour has become a tradition at our holiday gatherings.

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If you love holiday cocktails with cranberry flavors, you’ll want to try my cranberry Manhattan, cranberry Moscow mule, and cranberry margarita. These drinks bring that same festive spirit with different spirits and flavor combinations that are sure to impress your guests.

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

This cocktail is very easy to make, requiring just a few simple ingredients and a cocktail shaker.

In the printable recipe below, you can find a complete list of ingredients and measurements.

• Whiskey: We used bourbon whiskey, which has a sweet and smoky flavor, but you can use your favorite brand of whiskey or bourbon. Normally, the better the whiskey, the better the cocktail, but in this case, you can get away with a value brand.
• Cranberry Juice: We are using a high-quality, unsweetened cranberry juice that’s not from concentrate. This is not your everyday Ocean Spray cranberry cocktail. If you do substitute this with a cranberry cocktail, double the amount you add, and you’ll probably not need any additional sweetener. The cranberry flavor won’t come through as clearly, so it may be worth buying the real thing.
• Orange Juice: For the best flavor, use fresh-squeezed orange juice. Store-bought orange juice from concentrate will also usually contain added sugar, which would make this drink too sweet.
• Simple Syrup: If you don’t have simple syrup, you can make your own by combining equal parts sugar and water in a small saucepan and heating over low heat until the sugar dissolves. For an extra cranberry kick, try our cranberry simple syrup instead of traditional simple syrup.
• Orange and Cranberry Bitters: To balance the sweet and sour taste of the cocktail, we added a combination of orange and cranberry bitters. They give the drink a complex and complete flavor.

How to Make a Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour

Here are the quick, step-by-step instructions with visuals; you can find the full instructions, including the exact ingredients, in the recipe card below.

Pro-tip: This cocktail is easy to make ahead of time and can be made in batches, making it perfect for parties.

Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour: Fill two glasses with ice cubes, then shake two splashes of orange bitters and cranberry bitters into each glass over the ice. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, then add the bourbon or whiskey, cranberry juice, fresh orange juice, and simple syrup. Shake the mixture vigorously for about 15 seconds to chill the ingredients and aerate the mixture. Using a cocktail strainer, pour the mixture into the glasses over the ice. Garnish each glass with an orange slice, cranberries, and a sprig of rosemary.

Recipe Tips and Notes

• You can adjust the amount of cranberry juice and orange juice to your own taste. If you prefer a sweeter cocktail, add more orange juice. If you prefer a more tart cocktail, add more real cranberry juice.
• For a more festive presentation, you can rim the glass with sugar before adding the cocktail.