Cranberry Especial Recipe

Elana Lepkowski
Cranberry Especial Recipe

A cranberry cocktail to start off your evening. [Photo: Elana Lepkowski]

Cranberry juice gets a sophisticated touch with the help of sherry in this aperitif cocktail.

Why this recipe works:

  • Dry Sack oloroso sherry offers flavors reminiscent of cinnamon, clove, and maple syrup: just the sorts of autumnal spices that we often use in dishes that include cranberries.
  • Unsweetened 100% cranberry juice adds a punch of brightness to the drink, lightening the dense texture of Dry Sack oloroso sherry.
  • With mostly sherry and just a half ounce of rum, this cocktail is low-alcohol enough to start off an evening that's going to include several rounds of drinks.

Note: To make simple syrup, combine 1 cup water with 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. Cool before using. Simple syrup will keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Read more: Drink Your Cranberries This Thanksgiving

  • Yield:makes 1 cocktail
  • Active time: 5 minutes
  • Total time:5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces Dry Sack Oloroso Sherry, such as Williams & Humbert Dry Sack 15 year
  • 3/4 ounce unsweetened 100% cranberry juice, such as Knudsen’s
  • 1/2 ounce gold rum, such as Phraya
  • 1/2 ounce simple syrup, see note
  • 2 dashes orange bitters
  • Orange peel for garnish

Directions

  1. 1.

    Combine sherry, cranberry juice, rum, simple syrup, and bitters in a cocktail shaker. Fill 2/3 full with ice and shake until well chilled, about 20 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail coupe. Garnish with orange peel.

This Recipe Appears In
Drink Your Cranberries This Thanksgiving

This post may contain links to Amazon or other partners; your purchases via these links can benefit Serious Eats. Read more about our affiliate linking policy.

ADD A COMMENT

Add a rating with your comment:

Comments can take up to a minute to appear - please be patient!

PREVIEW YOUR COMMENT