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Home Β» Recipes Β» Holiday Cocktails Recipes

Cranberry Whiskey Sour

Published: Nov 15, 2020 Last Updated: Oct 17, 2022 by Marye 606 words. | About 4 minutes to read this article.

Cranberry whiskey sour is the Christmas cousin to the classic cocktail! It takes on a festive look with bright, crimson cranberries! It's an easy holiday drink that's as pretty as it is delicious! Add an egg white for a pretty foam and a richer brew.
Total time 2 minutes
Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
Cranberry whiskey sour in a glass. Text overlay for Pinterest.

My Candy Cane Martini is another holiday favorite, but if you really love sours try this grapefruit tequila sour - it's great all year long.

This recipe is meant for people over 21 years old. Please drink responsibly.

Close up of a cranberry whiskey sour in an on the rocks glass.
Jump to:
  • ❀️ Why you'll love this recipe
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 🍹Garnish
  • πŸ’­ Things to know
  • πŸ“š Related recipes
  • Cranberry Whiskey Sour

❀️ Why you'll love this recipe

This Cranberry Whiskey Sour is puckery sweet and holiday ready!

Cranberry juice cocktail plays nicely with bourbon, citrus, and simple syrup in this perfectly balanced holiday drink. 

Bright, Christmas red color. Mouthwatering cranberry citrus flavor perfectly balanced with bourbon. Bring on the Bing Crosby Christmas tunes and plates of hors d’oeuvres.

🧾 Ingredients

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.

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:

  • Sprig of rosemary
  • Orange wheel
  • Lemon wheel
  • Sugared glass rims
  • Bay leaf
  • Cinnamon sticks

πŸ’­ Things to know

Expert Tip: 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 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!
  • You can make this ahead of time (except for the egg white) and keep the mix in a large, covered pitcher.

πŸ“š Related recipes

  • Cranberry Moscow Mule
  • Texas Mule
  • Cranberry Daiquiri
  • Midnight Kiss Champagne Cocktail
Close up of a cranberry whiskey sour in an on the rocks glass.
4.67 from 6 votes

Cranberry Whiskey Sour

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Cranberry whiskey sour is the Christmas cousin to the classic cocktail! It takes on a festive look with bright, crimson cranberries! It's an easy holiday drink that's as pretty as it is delicious! Add an egg white for a pretty foam and a richer brew.
Course Beverage - Cocktail
Cuisine American
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 2 minutes
Servings:1
Calories:237
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • Cocktail Shaker
  • On the Rocks Glasses

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces bourbon
  • 1 ounce lemon juice
  • 3 ounces cranberry juice cocktail
  • Β½ ounce simple syrup
  • 1 egg white, optional
  • Orange peel
  • Maraschino cherry

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

FOR WHISKEY SOUR WITHOUT THE EGG

  • Add all ingredients except the cherry to the shaker filled with ice.
  • Shake for 30 seconds.
  • Strain into an ice filled glass.

FOR WHISKEY SOUR WITH THE 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

Calories: 237kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 61mg | Potassium: 49mg | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin C: 47mg | Iron: 1mg

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    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

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    Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

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