sleighride cranberry paloma

Hear them ring? Soon, it’ll be Christmas Day.

Soon.

Happy Friday, and we’re officially under a week from Thanksgiving! It saddens me how many folks I talk to are “over it.” Ready to skip over the feast day straight to ripping open the gift wrap. I love the Christmas season but doubtlessly enjoy Thanksgiving Day more – it’s the holiday I share solely with mom, and we cook it up all day long and just chill out in one another’s company.

I cherish those moments more than anything.

But, for the winter souls out there, I’m sharing a Sleighride Cranberry Paloma to jumpstart your culinary hype for balsam firs and Christmas carols. An easy spiced syrup jingles with cranberry and grapefruit juices, a touch of lime, and a ginger beer topping for a bubbly pop.

A jolly little drink to transition both from the workweek to weekend, and from autumn to snowfall season.

Very Merry Cranberry

Starting our sip today with a warming spiced simple syrup. Leftovers keep up to two weeks in the fridge, so our sweet addition is perfect for any other festive drink you might shake up this season.

Simmer together water and honey until dissolved, then throw in a couple cinnamon sticks, a whole clove, and an orange peel. Let steep 10 minutes or so. Discard the solids and stir. The subtle flavor lent by the syrup is really lovely, and I do not recommend you skip this step.

If you’d like a lil sparkle on your cocktail glass, rim with cinnamon sugar as I did. Brush the rim of your favorite rocks glass with honey, then toss together sugar and cinnamon and dip the honeyed rim into the mixture. Gently shake off any excess.

Now, to the drink! Combine tequila, grapefruit juice, cranberry juice, lime juice, and a touch of the spiced honey syrup in a shaker. Add ice and get jiggy with it until the your drink is nice and cold. Pour into your prepared cocktail glass and top with more ice (if needed) and a splash of ginger beer. Top with some fresh cranberries and rosemary.

If you want to be a little fancy, you can think ahead and prep some sugared cranberries and rosemary for your adornment. To make, simmer together equal parts sugar and water until dissolved, then dip in your rosemary sprigs and cranberries (however much you want!). Set on a wire rack placed over a baking sheet for about a half hour to let the syrup harden, then dust with granulated sugar. These garnishes don’t keep well, so use them immediately.

While I’m not rushing the next week, I do look forward to Christmas content and all the pretty lights and decorations, and perhaps this prequel cocktail will jazz up your spirits, too. After all, keeping spirits bright is what we fucken do around here.

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!

Caroling through the snow…with a drink in hand:

Merry Berry Christmas Margarita

Christmas Tequila Sangria

Mrs. Claus’s Merry Mojito

sleighride cranberry paloma

Oh by golly, have a holly jolly cocktail for the holly jolly season.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Steeping Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Cocktail, Drinks

Servings 1 cocktail

Ingredients

  

• 2 oz tequila
• 2 oz cranberry juice
• 2 oz grapefruit juice
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• 1/2 oz spiced syrup (recipe below)
• ginger beer, to top
• sugared rosemary and cranberries, for garnish (see note)

spiced syrup

• 1/2 cup honey
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 whole clove
• 1 orange peel (about 2 inches in length)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

 

• To make the syrup: in a small saucepot, heat the honey and 1/3 cup of water, stirring, until dissolved, about 2-3 minutes. Switch off the heat and stir in the cinnamon sticks, clove, and orange peel. Steep for 10 minutes. Discard the solids and stir in the vanilla.
• In a shaker, combine the tequila, cranberry and grapefruit juices, lime juice, and syrup. Fill with ice and shake until cold. Pour into a cocktail glass and add more ice as needed. Top with ginger beer and garnish with sugared rosemary and/or cranberries, as desired.

Notes

*Sugared rosemary and cranberries: Bring 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of sugar to a simmer, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Dip 3-4 rosemary sprigs and a handful of cranberries into the syrup. Use a slotted spoon to strain the liquid and set the sprigs and berries onto a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Let set 30 minutes, then sprinkle with granulated sugar. Use immediately.

Cinnamon sugar rim: Brush the rim of your favorite cocktail glass with honey. On a shallow plate, toss together 1 tablespoon sugar with 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Dip and swirl the honeyed rim into the sugar, shaking off excess. Prep the cocktail as directed.

Keyword christmas, cocktail, cranberries, drinks, fall, grapefruit, paloma, tequila, thanksgiving, winter