Cranberry Manhattan — a festive cranberry cocktail that’s easy to make and perfect for the holidays. Its vivid color also makes it a lovely choice for Valentine’s Day.
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Easy Christmas Cocktails
When the holidays arrive, I appreciate cocktails that are quick and fuss-free. With all the seasonal hustle and bustle, an easy drink is a small luxury.
After a day of shopping, I love to kick back, admire the tree, and sip a cozy cocktail. The Cranberry Manhattan delivers everything I want in a holiday drink — simple, beautiful, and delicious.
How to Make a Cranberry Manhattan
This Cranberry Manhattan is one of the simplest holiday cocktails you can make. The recipe uses either the syrup from my Brandied Cranberries or cranberry juice — I recommend making the brandied cranberries if you can; the syrup is flavorful and very easy to prepare.
Frozen cranberries are handy to keep in the freezer year-round so you can enjoy this cocktail any time. It’s especially pretty for Valentine’s Day, too.
To make the drink, combine rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and cranberry syrup (or juice) in a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice. Shake for 10–15 seconds, then strain into a martini glass. Add a few dashes of orange bitters and garnish with an orange twist and a cranberry or two.
One tip: if you want a perfect citrus twist, a channel knife makes creating neat citrus curls much easier — it’s a small bar tool that really helps.
This Cranberry Negroni is another favorite Christmas cocktail.
A Chocolate Coffee Martini makes a wonderful dessert cocktail and after-dinner treat.
Find a great brunch option in this collection of 10 Mimosa Recipes.
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Cranberry Manhattan
Drinks
American
5 minutes
5 minutes
1
159kcal
Ingredients
- 2 ounces rye whiskey
- ½ ounce sweet vermouth
- ½ ounces Brandied Cranberry Syrup or cranberry juice
- dash orange bitters
- orange peel for garnish
- cranberries for garnish
Instructions
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Place whiskey, vermouth, and syrup in a cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice. Shake for 10–15 seconds.
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Strain into a martini glass. Add a few dashes of orange bitters and garnish with cranberries and an orange peel.
Nutrition
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Carbohydrates: 2g
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Sugar: 1g
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Vitamin C: 1.3mg
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Update Notes: Originally published in 2015 and updated in 2018.