Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Cranberry Shrub Cocktail with Bourbon

Cranberry Shrub Cocktail with Bourbon

You can also make a kid-friendly version of this holiday drink

Ready for some holiday cheer? So are we.

The season calls out for cranberries, of course. And bourbon is perfect for warming a long December night. Mix them both with a tangy, vinegary shrub syrup, and you have a cocktail that even Santa can’t resist. (But we know some of his elves don’t drink, so we provide instructions for a nonalcoholic version of the cocktail, too.)

Wishing you a berry merry December.



Cranberry Shrub Cocktail with Bourbon

Recipe: Cranberry Shrub Cocktail with Bourbon

We’ve posted about shrubs before. Back in June we made a nonalcoholic Berry Shrub. Then we used that to make a Rum Shrub Cocktail.

To prepare a shrub drink, you need shrub syrup, which is a mixture of fruit, sugar, and vinegar. Shrub syrups date back hundreds of years; they offered a handy way of preserving fruit before refrigeration came along.

Now that December has arrived, we decided to make cranberry shrub syrup. And since citrus is in season, we’ve added a bit of orange to the mix.

Below you’ll find two recipes – one for cranberry shrub syrup, and another for a cranberry shrub cocktail with bourbon.

Prep time for the cranberry shrub syrup is only about 15 minutes. But you’ll need to let the syrup age for 2 days so that the flavors can blend together. Our cranberry shrub syrup recipe yields about 2 cups. It keeps well for several weeks if refrigerated in an airtight container.

Prep time for the cocktail recipe is about 5 minutes (assuming you have cranberry shrub syrup on hand). It serves 1.

In the Notes, you’ll find a recipe for a nonalcoholic version of this drink (along with a gin version, just for good measure).

Our cranberry shrub syrup recipe is adapted from one we found in Michael Dietsch’s Shrubs: An Old Fashioned Drink for Modern Times. The cocktail recipe is our own original concoction.

Ingredients for Cranberry Shrub Syrup
  • 1 large orange
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 12 ounces (1 package) fresh cranberries
  • 1 cup cider vinegar
  • 1 cinnamon stick
Procedure for Cranberry Shrub Syrup
  1. Wash and dry the orange. Using a vegetable peeler, remove the zest from the orange (try to include as little of the white pith as possible). Place the zest in a nonreactive bowl and add the sugar. Muddle the zest and sugar together (use a cocktail muddler or the back of a ladle or large spoon). Keep muddling for 5 minutes or so – you want to infuse the sugar with the oils from the orange zest. Once you’re finishing muddling, cover the bowl with shrink wrap and let sit at room temperature for an hour or two. Then fish out the orange zest and discard it.
  2. Meanwhile, juice the orange and place the juice in the refrigerator to chill.
  3. Wash the cranberries, picking out and discarding any bad ones. Pour the cranberries into the bowl of a food processor, along with the cider vinegar, and purée.
  4. Add the cranberry mixture to the muddled sugar (make sure you’ve fished out the zest). Then add the cinnamon stick and the reserved orange juice (from Step 2). Stir the ingredients well to mix, then cover the bowl with shrink wrap. Refrigerate the mixture for 2 days, stirring once or twice a day.
  5. After 2 days, strain the cranberry mixture and discard the solids. Pour the cranberry syrup into a glass jar or bottle. Cover tightly, then shake the jar to combine the ingredients thoroughly. Label the shrub syrup jar/bottle and refrigerate it. Before using the syrup, shake it again to combine the ingredients (the sugar can sometimes separate).
Ingredients for the Cranberry Shrub Cocktail with Bourbon
  • 2 ounces bourbon
  • ½ ounce Cointreau (may substitute Grand Marnier; see Notes)
  • 1 ounce cranberry shrub syrup
  • 2 dashes orange bitters (or to taste)
  • orange twist for garnish (optional)
Procedure for the Cranberry Shrub Cocktail with Bourbon
  1. Place all ingredients (except garnish) in a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice. Shake well until thoroughly chilled (about 20 seconds).
  2. Strain into a cocktail glass, preferably one that’s been chilled. Garnish, if you like, and serve.
Cranberry Shrub Cocktail with Bourbon

Notes
  • About infusing sugar with the oils of orange zest/peel: Much of the flavor of citrus is in the oily peel (the colored part, not the white pith, which tends to be bitter). By muddling the zest together with sugar (and letting the two mingle for an hour or two), we’re transferring most of the citrus oil to the sugar. Technically, what we’re making is an oleo-saccharum – oily sugar. It’s a neat trick that really works, although it does take a bit of time (most of it unattended).
  • We like to serve this drink “up” in a cocktail glass. But if you prefer, you could serve it in a rocks (Old-Fashioned) glass over ice.
  • Want to make a nonalcoholic version of this drink? Add 1 or 2 ounces of cranberry shrub syrup to a tall glass filled with ice. Add 4 to 6 ounces of seltzer water or ginger ale. Stir and serve with a straw. Add an orange slice for garnish, if you wish.
  • Prefer to use a spirit other than bourbon? You can substitute dry gin if you like. The drink isn’t quite as interesting, in our opinion (it tastes a bit like alcoholic cranberry relish). But it’s a fun change.
  • Speaking of bourbon, there’s no need to use a pricey brand for this cocktail. We like to use Evan Williams for mixed drinks. But any name-brand bourbon should work fine.
  • BTW, we haven’t made this drink with rum yet, but think that would work pretty well too. Try a dark or amber rum.
  • We’ve made this drink both with Cointreau and Grand Marnier. Both iterations are good. We tend to prefer the Cointreau version, but only by a little. We should note, however, that Grand Marnier combines very well with rum. So if you’re making a rum version of this drink, try Grand Marnier first.
  • We use orange bitters in this drink mainly because we love the cranberry-orange-bourbon combo. We haven’t experimented with other bitters, but feel free to do so if you’re inclined.
Cranberry Shrub Cocktail with Bourbon

Cranberry Sauce

“Nice to have a drink at last,” said Mrs. Kitchen Riffs. “After all that holiday cookie baking, I’m bushed.”

“Don’t you mean shrubbed?” I said.

“Berry clever,” said Mrs K R.

“I’m just bourbon over with puns today,” I said.

“Orange you the wit,” said Mrs K R. 

Tart and vinegary, just to my taste.

You may also enjoy reading about:
Berry Shrub Syrup
Rum Shrub Cocktail
Betsy Ross Cocktail
Brandy Alexander Cocktail
Eggnog
Grasshopper Cocktail
Or check out the index for more

82 comments:

Angie's Recipes said...

Such a lovely festive colour! Perfect for the holiday season, John.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Angie, doesn't this look nice? Love its flavor, too! Thanks for the comment.

Mae Travels said...

That's a lot of new information about shrubs and their history!

best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Mae, shrub history is fun. Using shrubs in cocktails is even more fun! Not to mention tasty. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Tricia Buice said...

The color is magnificent John and the flavor must be too. It sounds like it would be worth the effort! I am a bourbon kind of girl so this is for me :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Tricia, if you like bourbon, you'd love this! Really nice combo of flavors. Thanks for the comment.

Pam said...

I haven't tried bourbon before but this beautiful cocktail makes me want to try it!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pam, bourbon is good stuff, although for some it's an acquired taste. But a taste we've definitely acquired! Thanks for the comment.

Evelyne CulturEatz said...

OMG cranberries and bourbon! So LIEK this very very much :-D

Laura Dembowski said...

Love the idea of making cranberry shrub. This is like an amped up version of a cosmo!

Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen said...

I like bourbon and cranberries too. And this stunning looking cocktail is making me drool. I so want to try this very soon. Thanks for this share.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Evelyne, it's a great combo of flavors, isn't it? :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Laura, it is a lot like a cosmo. Particularly if you make the gin version (the bourbon is better, but the gin is really worth a try). Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Anu, isn't that a wonderful pairing? So good. And the red IS rather nice, isn't it? :-) Thanks for the comment.

mjskit said...

Love your shrubs!!! This cranberry orange one sounds heavenly and, yes, perfect for this time of year! I love soaking dried cranberries in bourbon, so I know this is a cocktail that I'd love. Fabulous cocktail John! So berry and merry!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi MJ, this is totally berry and merry. :-) Shrubs are SO good -- we've enjoyed playing with them for the past year. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Amira said...

What a color this cocktail has!! Looks very festive indeed.

Abbe@This is How I Cook said...

What a gorgeous drink! Fabulous flavor, perfect after all the sugary stuff. Wonder how this would work with cranberry juice? Not sure if I can wait long enough for the syrup!

Unknown said...

Thanks for posting this. I wanted to make a cranberry shrub for Thanksgiving but wasn't quite sure how to do it. Now I do!

Yi @ Yi Reservation said...

The bourbon and cranberry combo sounds awesome! And it's perfect that I can make the adult version for myself and the kid-friendly version for Mrs Yi Reservation who doesn't drink much.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Amira, doesn't this look festive? So nice for the season! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Abbe, I've thought of mixing fruit juice with vinegar to make a shrub, but just haven't tried it. Maybe you should? And let us know? :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Chris, you'll love cranberry shrub! The flavor is excellent. Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Yi, you'll like this version, and I'll bet your wife will love the kid-friendly version! Thanks for the comment.

Cheri Savory Spoon said...

Hi John, Oh my goodness, love the color. Bourbon and cranberries sound delicious!!! Happy Holidays!

Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes said...

Oh this sounds great! Cranberry is my favorite this tome of year. I like the idea to try it with dark rum!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Cheri, the color is fun, isn't it? And the flavor is wonderful! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Ashley, we haven't tried it with dark rum yet -- maybe this weekend! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Denise Browning said...

What a festive drink!!!!! Great for the holidays!

Gerlinde de Broekert said...

I made your berry shrub and it was delicious. I have some frozen cranberries and now I know what I am going to do with them. Prost!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Denise, doesn't looking at this drink put you in the holiday mood? So will drinking it! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Gerlinde, don't you love the flavor of shrubs? So interesting! This cranberry one is a winner. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Unknown said...

Your cocktails always are cheerful and bright. Now with all the family due to visit this will be perfect as we can make virgin ones for the kids too. Love that bright red color- very festive!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Bobbi, although we like shrub cocktails, just mixing the shrub syrup with seltzer makes a wonderful drink. Pretty, too. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Food Gal said...

I love shrubs, especially in summer. There's just something so refreshing when that sharp acidity hits your palate. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, so to speak. But to me, it's such a great quencher. And with a bit of booze and such a dazzling color, this one really is made for a holiday celebration.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Carolyn, that hit of vinegar really is rather pleasant, isn't it? Although I agree with you that not everyone enjoys it. We sure do! Thanks for the comment.

GiGi Eats Celebrities said...

You bottled up (or poured yourself a glass) the holidays quite nicely if you ask me! You could close the blinds and drink this in JUNE and think it's the holiday again!

Jill @ Teatime in Paris said...

Love the sound of this - and even the elf version! It's high time I steered away from wine for a while for apéro and went for cocktails. Looks and sounds deliciously festive. Cheers!

baili said...

wow ,this drink sounds and looks so refreshing .
loved it

Jeff said...

I'm still basking in the glow of last summer's shrub experiment. It was the hit of the party. I have no doubt this cranberry version would come off just as nicely.

Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) said...

You two are punny! Pinned.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi GiGi, this would actually be a really pleasant June drink -- shrubs are very refreshing! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Jill, we love wine, but it's SO much fun to have a cocktail before dinner! Or any old time. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Baili, it IS refreshing. And good. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Jeff, you'll love this! I've made this shrub syrup a little bit tamer (less vinegar and sugar) so it'd mix better as a cocktail as opposed to a cooler. Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Lea Ann, it's a gift. Or a curse. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Juliana said...

This is such a pretty drink John...I am loving the touch of cinnamon in the cranberry shrub and Bourbon...I look forward to give this a try...
Hope you are having great week :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Juliana, the cinnamon adds a nice spicy note! As do the bitters. Thanks for the comment.

Marta @ What should I eat for breakfast today said...

hahaah, I love the kid friendly option :D

Deb|EastofEdenCooking said...

So very festive! A wonderful way to celebrate the season! Thank you for the inspiration John.

Sippity Sup said...

Pass me a pretty red cranberry shrub cocktail and then leaf me alone. GREG

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Marta, the kid option is really good! Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Deb, isn't this nice? Looks pretty, tastes prettier. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Greg, :D One shrub coming up! Thanks for the comment.

handmade by amalia said...

I am very ready for this kind of cheer, it is the weekend :-)
Amalia
xo

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Amalia, we had this again tonight. Because, as you point out, it's the weekend. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Karen (Back Road Journal) said...

I know I've said this more than once, nobody makes a cocktail better than you do and your photos prove that. Certainly nice for the holidays.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Karen, aw, shucks! Thanks for that very kind comment. :-)

Hotly Spiced said...

It certainly is a very festive colour. I like the sound of the cranberry shrub recipe. It's a little like my cranberry sauce recipe except for the vinegar part. Your cocktails are always so beautiful - if you told people you were a mixologist they'd have no trouble believing you xx

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Charlie, isn't the color great? As is the flavor. :-) And yes, this is an awfully lot like cranberry sauce! But better! Thanks for the comment.

Eva Taylor said...

Just because I'm in a cheeky mood, I'm going to ask how many of these cocktails do you test, before you get the recipe right? Considering the puns that always follow....
In all seriousness, this is a beautiful and festive looking cocktail. I could use one right now, as the snow is falling and thickly covering the roads. It would be a perfect night to cuddle up and stay in with your beautiful cocktail, but sadly I have to go out and drive in it.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Eva, for this one we actually did a fair amount of testing -- but when we test, we always make one at a time and split it. It's the only sane thing to do! BTW, both of your comments came through -- I deleted the other one (I have comment moderation turned on, so they don't show up right away). And speaking of comments, thanks for yours!

Beth said...

What a beautiful drink - so festive for the holiday season!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Beth, isn't this pretty? And SO tasty! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Amy (Savory Moments) said...

A beautifully festive drink!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Amy, it's a really nice one! Thanks for the comment.

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

LOVE this gorgeous color! And bourbon may be the only way I'll get through this polar vortex!! Seriously, this is one beautiful cocktail!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Liz, it's about to get really cold! Bourbon all around. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Unknown said...

Your cocktails are always so stunning. The colors and flavors scream holidays, yum yum.
Cheers!!
xo

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Asha, cheers! And this is a really good one for toasting the holidays. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Dawn @ Words Of Deliciousness said...

I love the color of this drink and also the cranberry orange combination. Sounds wonderful.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Dawn, isn't the color great? We really like this -- will be having it again this weekend! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Anna Johnston said...

Well now.... why would I want to make a kid friendly version huh - chuckle - the colour is so festive and I love, love, love cranberry. Awesome drink by all accounts.

ChgoJohn said...

This cocktail just about screams "Happy Holidays!" and I love it, John. I'd never heard of shrub syrup and am so glad that you've posted instructions for making some. I do have friends who are alcohol-free and your mocktail version will be very well received. Cheers!

All That I'm Eating said...

I love the sound of this and the bright red colour too. I can just see my sipping this next to a fire!

Pam said...

Great cocktail! Love that bourbon, esp after growing up in Bourbon Country! Pretty color too! Maker's Mark maybe?

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Anna, the kid version actually is pretty good, although we prefer the adult version, too. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi John, shrubs are really good! A lot of fun to experiment with. Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Caroline, this is wonderful to drink by a crackling fire! SO good. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pam, we didn't use Maker's Mark, but its sweetness would be quite nice in this drink. Thanks for the comment.

Unknown said...

Those are the most beautiful photos. Your pics must be pinched by so many people - they are so good.

I've had a cranberry shrub before but with no alcohol. This one sounds much better. :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Maureen, shrubs are great, aren't they? And alcohol is better. :-) Thanks for that very kind comment.