Cranberry Rosemary Cocktail
This Cranberry Rosemary Cocktail is a 5-minute holiday drink made with cranberry juice, vodka and rosemary simple syrup. It’s tart, lightly sweet and festive enough for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
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“This was off the charts fantastic. I served the drink in a martini glass rimmed with red sanding sugar. Best holiday drink ever!!”
– Dave
Make Your Spirit Bright With This Cranberry Holiday Cocktail
We firmly believe that being a good holiday host includes welcoming your guests with a drink. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, and it can certainly be a mocktail, but offering something when they arrive immediately makes everybody feel at home.
If it’s going to be a cocktail, this Cranberry Rosemary Cocktail is a go-to around here for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s and all the random celebrations in between.
It’s ready in just 5 minutes with cranberry juice, vodka and homemade rosemary simple syrup. The rosemary gives a basic cranberry cocktail a little more character without making it fussy, and the result is tart, lightly sweet and very easy to drink.
Why You Will Love This Cranberry Rosemary Cocktail
- It’s tart and balanced, not sugary. Cranberry juice gets just enough sweetness from the rosemary simple syrup without turning this festive cocktail into liquid candy.
- The rosemary actually adds flavor. Instead of using it only as a pretty Christmas-tree-ish garnish, rosemary simple syrup brings an herbal note to the entire cocktail.
- No cocktail shaker needed. Build the drink right in the glass, stir and garnish. That’s it.
Start Your Cranberry Cocktail With Rosemary Simple Syrup
Please click over to our Rosemary Simple Syrup and make that before you start your cranberry rosemary cocktail. If you happen to find store-bought rosemary simple syrup, that works, too.
The homemade syrup takes about 15 minutes, and 10 of those minutes are simply letting it stand at room temperature, so there’s very little actual work involved.
The simple syrup will keep in the fridge for at least 5 days, so you can make it ahead and have cranberry cocktails ready to go all week.
Cranberry Rosemary Cocktail Ingredients
A full recipe card, including exact ingredient amounts, appears at the bottom of this post.
- vodka – use a good-quality unflavored vodka. We like Valentine Vodka made here in Ferndale, Michigan, or Tito’s is an easy-to-find national option.
- cranberry juice – look for 100% cranberry juice rather than cranberry juice cocktail blend. Since cranberry is the dominant flavor here, the juice you choose makes a noticeable difference.
- rosemary simple syrup – this is what turns a basic vodka cranberry into this particular cocktail. Our homemade version can be prepared ahead and refrigerated. Add a bit extra if you like a sweeter cocktail, a bit less if you want a sour cocktail.
- ice – plenty of it. This drink is stirred directly in the serving glass, so the ice chills the cocktail as you mix it.
- rosemary sprigs, lime wedges and fresh cranberries – all optional, but they make a very simple drink look holiday-party ready in about 10 seconds.
How To Make A Cranberry Cocktail
For one cranberry rosemary cocktail, stir 4 ounces cranberry juice, 2 ounces vodka and 1/2 ounce rosemary simple syrup together over ice, then garnish as desired.
- BUILD. Fill a double old fashioned glass with ice. Add the cranberry juice, vodka and rosemary simple syrup, then stir until well combined.
- GARNISH. Serve with a rosemary sprig, lime wedge and/or fresh cranberries, if desired.
Make This Cranberry Cocktail For A Crowd
Having a big gathering? For a pitcher that serves 8, use:
- 2 cups vodka.
- 4 cups cranberry juice.
- 1/2 cup rosemary simple syrup.
Stir everything together in a pitcher and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve. Don’t add ice to the pitcher or the cocktail will become diluted as it sits. Pour it over ice in individual glasses instead.
Cranberry Cocktail Home Chef Tips
- Start with plenty of ice. Because you’re building this cocktail directly in the glass rather than shaking it, the ice does the work of getting everything properly chilled.
- Give it more than a token stir. The simple syrup can settle toward the bottom of the glass, so stir until the color and sweetness are evenly distributed for a perfect drink.
- Chill the glasses if you’re entertaining. It’s completely optional, but a cold glass helps keep the drink cold longer while everybody is standing around talking instead of actually drinking it.
- Make it a mocktail. Omit the vodka, or use ginger ale or ginger beer in place of the alcohol.
More Cocktails With Rosemary Simple Syrup
- BOURBON – Our Lemon Rosemary Bourbon Sour is an herbal variation on a classic bourbon sour and uses the same homemade rosemary simple syrup.
- GIN – Try our Rosemary Gin Cocktail, made with orange juice, gin, tonic water and rosemary simple syrup.
- VODKA – Our Grapefruit Vodka Cocktail is fizzy, tart and another good reason to keep a batch of rosemary syrup in the fridge.
What To Serve With Cranberry Cocktails
You can never go wrong with melted cheese and bread, so our Savory Baked Brie is always a crowd pleaser alongside these cranberry cocktails.
For something a little more substantial, Greek Chicken Meatballs and Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs both work as either appetizers or part of a larger spread.
If cured meats are more your speed, try Charcuterie Cups or go completely overboard for the holidays with a Charcuterie Chalet.
For even more entertaining ideas, browse our New Year’s Eve Food Ideas. Most of them work for Thanksgiving, Christmas and pretty much any other excuse to invite people over.
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Cranberry Rosemary Cocktail
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Ingredients
- Ice
- 4 ounces cranberry juice
- 2 ounces vodka
- ½ ounce Rosemary Simple Syrup
- Rosemary sprig, lime wedge and/or fresh cranberries, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Fill double old fashioned glass with ice. Add juice, vodka and simple syrup and stir until well combined.
- Serve garnished with rosemary sprig, lime wedge and/or fresh cranberries, if desired.
This was off the charts fantastic. I used twice as much rosemary simple syrup than called for and served the drink in a martini glass rimmed with red sanding sugar. I considered wrapping a small candy cane with a rosemary sprig to look like garland but wasn’t feeling quite that industrious. Best holiday drink ever!!
I’m so glad to hear you loved this, Dave. I bet it was beautiful in a martini glass with sanding sugar. Have a great holiday season!