I had my first Manhattan at a family gathering when I was home from college for the holidays, and that was the start of my love for bourbon. This Cranberry Manhattan embraces the sophistication of the classic cocktail while adding a seasonal twist. By incorporating unsweetened cranberry juice and bitters, we’ve created a cocktail that honors the traditional Manhattan’s refinement while introducing bright, festive flavors.
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If you love cranberry cocktails as much as we do, try our cranberry margarita or our cranberry Moscow mule for more holiday cocktail options or for a twist on a traditional martini try our pumpkin pie martini or mistletoe martini.
Key Ingredients and Substitutions
A classic Manhattan doesn’t have many ingredients, so quality is the driving force of how good this will taste.
The full ingredient list and measurements are listed in the printable recipe below.
- Bourbon: Many great bourbons are available, as any visit to a trendy liquor store will demonstrate. You don’t need a $50 bottle for this to taste good – a mainstream brand like Maker’s Mark, Bulleit, or Knob’s Creek will do just fine. Don’t substitute whiskey, like Jack Daniels, as the flavor just won’t be right.
- VSOP Brandy: The VSOP designation (which stands for Very Superior Old Pale) ensures you’re getting a well-aged brandy that will complement rather than compete with the bourbon. While premium cognacs are wonderful, a mid-range VSOP brandy like St. Remy or Paul Masson works perfectly in this cocktail.
- 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. We don’t recommend using a cranberry juice cocktail since it will add unnecessary sweetness to the Manhattan.
- Sweet Vermouth: There are many artisanal vermouths, and if you’re not careful, you could spend more on them than on bourbon. We are using the old stand-by Martini & Rossi Rosso vermouth—’red’ and ‘sweet’ are synonymous when shopping for this fortified wine.
- Cranberry Bitters: We’ve replaced the traditional Angostura bitters used in a classic Manhattan with cranberry bitters. This substitution not only balances the cocktail’s sweet and rich taste but enhances the natural cranberry notes while maintaining the complexity that bitters bring to a Manhattan.
How to Make a Cranberry Manhattan
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: For a truly exceptional cocktail experience, invest in high-quality cocktail cherries like Luxardo or Amarena – they’re a significant upgrade from standard maraschino cherries and make a noticeable difference in the final presentation and taste
Cranberry Manhattan: In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the bourbon, sweet vermouth, VSOP brandy, cranberry juice, cranberry bitters, and black cherry juice. Stir for about 15 seconds (don’t shake, as stirring helps maintain the proper texture and clarity of the cocktail), and then, using a cocktail strainer, pour into a chilled coupe or martini glass. Garnish with cherries or cranberries and an orange peel, and serve.
More Holiday Cocktails To Try
Looking for more inspired holiday cocktail recipes? Try these other favorites:
- Apple Cider Whiskey Sour – A twist on a classic cocktail that combines fall flavors with the warmth of whiskey with apple cider and brown sugar cinnamon simple syrup.
- Cranberry Aperol Spritz – This is a seasonal spin on the classic Italian cocktail. It combines Aperol, cranberry juice, fresh orange juice, and effervescent prosecco, making it a refreshing drink perfect for holiday celebrations.
- Christmas Holiday Margarita – This is the perfect holiday cocktail. It is sweet, tangy, and tart and combines tequila, orange liqueur, cranberry juice, and bitters for a festive drink.
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Cranberry Manhattan
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Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 1 ounce sweet (red) vermouth
- 1 ounce VSOP brandy
- 3 ounces pure unsweetned cranberry juice, not from concentrate
- 2 dashses cranberry bitters
- 1 barspoon marichino cherry juice
Garnishes
- cranberries or cherries
- orange twists
Instructions
- Add the bourbon, vermouth, brandy, cranberry juice, bitters, and cherry juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Stir for about 15 seconds and then, using a cocktail strainer, pour into the prepared glasses. Garnish and serve.
