cranberry cider bourbon smash
This, and a big cozy sweater, a fire pit, and a star-laden late fall evening.
Happy Friday, happy weekend, happy happy happy. This week was LONG and busy, as will most weeks prove for the rest of the season, and we’ve got a tidy little warming sip to bring us into a couple days (hopefully) of R&R. If you’ve gotta work anyway (I do), I hope you at least find a couple moments to yourself.
If you’re feeling a merry drink to accompany the evening, give this Cranberry Cider bourbon Smash a go. It stars a pomegranate simple syrup, hinted with citrus thanks to an orange peeled boiled with the juice and sugar, flavored otherwise with apple cider and cranberry juice. Finish with a merry splash of ginger beer for a bubbly burst atop.
Nothing to this cocktail, just a few extra minutes to boil down the syrup. Otherwise, the effort is minimal and the chill vibes are maximal.
Cran-Merry
I hope that ain’t trademarked. Ah well.
I’ve used this pomegranate syrup in a couple drinks prior, namely the Haunted Mansion Margarita for Halloween, but this time we’re throwing in an orange peel for a little citrusy pop.
To make, simmer pomegranate juice with sugar and a good couple inches of peel until the syrup thickens like honey. Move off the heat and let cool a touch before mixing your drinky drink. Leftover syrup lasts a good two weeks, sealed, in the fridge, if you have some leftover from a night of responsibly merrymaking.
Snag your favorite rocks glass from the shelf, make sure it’s nice and dusted off as dust mites are not part of the ingredients list here. Stir some of your syrup with bourbon, apple cider, cranberry juice, and a dash of orange bitters. You may need to stir a little aggressively to ensure the syrup dissolves completely, as it is pretty thick.
Add ice and finish with a splish of ginger beer. Sparkling water is good too if you’d rather not the flavor of the ginger, or even sparkling cider if you have some.
For garnish, I kept things easy with butterfly apple slices, and a sprig of sugared rosemary. Boozy apples are a wonderful chaser once the drink itself is complete.
A nice and easy lead in to the weekend. Hope ya’ll are feeling good and the frazzle wears off once today’s workday winds to a close. Soft jazz and big blankets help!
Tried this recipe out? Leave a rating and comment below with your thoughts, and don’t forget to come say hi on Instagram and show me what you made!
Cran-merry bells keep ringing:
Sparkling Cranberry Cider Tequila Punch
cranberry cider bourbon smash
Ingredients
- 1 cup pomegranate juice
- 2 inches orange peel
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 oz bourbon or whiskey
- 1 oz apple cider
- 1 oz cranberry juice
- 2-3 dashes orange bitters
- ginger beer, to top
- apple slices, for garnish
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, simmer the pomegranate juice, orange peel, and sugar, stirring frequently, until the liquid thickens and reduces by about half, about 8-10 minutes. The syrup is done when it's the consistency of honey. Move the pot off the heat and let cool.
- In your favorite cocktail glass, vigorously stir together 1/2 oz of the pomegranate syrup, the bourbon, apple cider, cranberry juice, and bitters. Add ice and top with ginger beer. Garnish with apple slices, as desired.
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