This pretty, cranberry whiskey sour has bright, Christmas red color and mouthwatering cranberry citrus flavor perfectly balanced with bourbon. Bring on the Bing Crosby Christmas tunes and plates of hors d’oeuvres.
This recipe is meant for people over 21 years old. Please drink responsibly. First published November 15, 2020. Last updated December 11, 2024, for editorial improvements and to add video.
Table of Contents
- 🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
- 🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need for this cranberry whiskey sour
- 🍹Garnish
- 💭 Insider tips: things to know
- 👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
- 📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
- 📞 Wrapping it up: the last word
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Save this recipe by clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.
🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
- This festive holiday drink is not only pretty but it is absolutely delicious!
- This is one of my favorite cocktails to sip at Christmas while I am relaxing but it's perfect for cocktail parties, too.
- Using frozen cranberries chills the cocktail and looks pretty, too.
A whiskey sour is a classic cocktail made with three, simple ingredients – whiskey, citrus, and simple syrup – sometimes an egg white is added.
We’ve updated this version for Christmas with bright cranberry and sweet orange flavors. Make it with or without the egg white, as you wish.
🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need for this cranberry whiskey sour
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
Why egg white?
If it was good enough for Abraham Lincoln…
Whiskey Sours have been around since the 1860s at least and for most of those years they sported a thick, foamy top – thanks to egg white. The egg white adds a rich creaminess to the drink without adding flavor.
But is raw egg safe?
That’s up to you. Clean eggs and freshly washed hands go a long way – and salmonella is very unlikey. If you’re concerned definitely leave it out – but if you’re the adventurous type it adds an entirely new dimension to this old fashioned favorite.
🍹Garnish
There are a lot of ways to garnish a cranberry whiskey sour. I tend to prefer simply adding some frozen cranberries, orange zest, and maybe a cherry.
Other possibilities include:
- Orange wheel
- Lemon wheel
- Sugared glass rims
- Bay leaf
- Cinnamon sticks
💭 Insider tips: things to know
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice works best in this recipe but use what you have.
- Fresh cranberries are a pretty garnish.
- Frozen cranberries help keep your cocktail cold without diluting it - plus it's pretty!
- Freeze a couple of cranberries and a small piece of rosemary in the ice cubes – pretty far almost any holiday drinks.
- Holiday parties? You can make this ahead of time (except for the egg white) and keep the mix in a large, covered pitcher.
Marye's Tip o' the day
If you are using the egg white don’t add the ice until you’ve shaken the other ingredients briskly for about 30 seconds.
🤫 Marye's secret for zhuzhing it up
Use frozen cranberries instead of ice to chill the cocktail and garnish with a sprig of rosemary for big holiday energy.
zhuzh: verb. To make something more interesting or attractive
👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!
Most often it's made with rye or bourbon. If you have a favorite bourbon that's the one to use.
You need to add all the ingredients except ice, then shake it without ice, then shake with ice. Don't ever add ice to a whiskey sour if it hasn't been shaken first.
📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
📞 Wrapping it up: the last word
Cranberry juice cocktail plays nicely with bourbon, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup in this perfectly balanced holiday drink. Cranberry whiskey sour is a fun cocktail to serve when cranberries are in season - I'll even freeze a few bags and use the frozen cranberries to chill the cocktails in the summertime, too.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Cranberry Whiskey Sour
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 1 ounce lemon juice
- 3 ounces cranberry juice cocktail
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 1 egg white, optional
- Orange peel
- Maraschino cherry
Instructions
Whiskey Sour without Egg
- Add all ingredients except the cherry to the shaker filled with ice.
- Shake for 30 seconds.
- Strain into an ice filled glass.
Whiskey Sour with Egg
- Add the bourbon, lemon, simple syrup, cranberry juice, orange peel, and egg to the shaker. DO NOT ADD ICE.
- Shake vigorously for 30 seconds – or until frothy.
- Add ice and shake until very cold.
- Strain into an ice filled glass and let it sit for a minute so the froth separates from the liquid.
Notes
- If you are using the egg white don’t add the ice until you’ve shaken the other ingredients briskly for about 30 seconds.
- Fresh squeezed lemon juice works best in this recipe but use what you have.
- Frozen cranberries help keep drinks cold without diluting them.
- Freeze a couple of cranberries and a small piece of rosemary in the ice cubes – pretty!
- You can make this ahead of time (except for the egg white) and keep the mix in a large, covered pitcher.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
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