Cranberry Manhattan a favorite cranberry cocktail!  This easy Christmas cocktail (with it’s pretty color it’d be great for Valentine’s Day too) is the perfect way to celebrate the holidays.
Post may contain affiliate links, full disclosure on side bar.
Click here to pin this Cranberry Manhattan now!Â
Easy Christmas Cocktails
If there is a ever I time that I appreciate an easy cocktail, it is around the holiday season. So much hustling and bustling, one thing that should be easy is a cocktail.
After a day of shopping, I want to put my feet up, gaze at the tree (so pretty when I take off my glasses!) and sip a lovely libation.
This Cranberry Manhattan checks off all the things I want in a Christmas cocktail – easy, pretty, and oh so delicious!
How to Make a Cranberry Manhattan
This Cranberry Manhattan is so easy, it’s going to be your go to holiday cocktail. The recipe calls for syrup from my Brandied Cranberries or cranberry juice.  I highly suggest you make the Bandied Cranberries, they are so good and so easy.
Did you know you could freeze cranberries? I just picked up two more bags from the store today. I keep them in the freezer so that I can make cocktails like this all year long – it’s really pretty at Valentine’s Day.
This is one of those recipes where you just combine your ingredients – whiskey, vermouth, cranberry syrup or juice a in a cocktail shaker filled half way with ice. Shake and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with and orange twist and a cranberry.
By the way, if you noticed that I have finally mastered a good citrus twist for a cocktail, it turns out the secret is a channel knife. I finally asked a bartender about their citrus curls because they were so perfect and he showed me his channel knife.
Looking for more holiday cocktails:
This Cranberry Negroni is also a favorite Christmas cocktail!
This Chocolate Coffee Martini is dessert, cocktail and after dinner coffee all in one!
I’m sure you find the perfect brunch drink in this collection of 10 Mimosa Recipes!
Cranberry Manhattan
Ingredients
- 2 ounces rye whiskey
- 1/2 ounce sweet vermouth
- 1/2 ounces Brandied Cranberry Syrup or cranberry juice
- dash orange bitters
- orange peel for garnish
- cranberries for garnish
Instructions
- Place whiskey, vermouth, and syrup in a cocktail shaker filled 1/2 way with ice. Shake for 10-15 seconds
- Strain into a martini glass. Add a few dashes of orange bitters. Garnish with berries and orange peel.
Nutrition
Don’t forget you can sign up to receive an email when a new post goes live! The best part is you can check to receive all updates or just your favorite parts of the blog! Maybe you only like recipes or just want to see my adorable cats, I’ve got you covered!
Click here to sign up to receive email updates!
Update Notes: This was originally published in 2015 and has been updated for 2018.
I love how you shot your food and drinks shots. I’ve probably told you that before. The bokeh is so wonderful and this time of year the colors are so snappy…Great job Pam. I’m working on bokeh. Some days are better than others…maybe if I had one of these drinks first, I might improve.
The more you have some drinks, the prettier the bokeh gets 🙂
I can definitely understand how nervous you are, Pam, but I am sure all will be well. Hope you feel better soon too! I love a good Manhattan so I really like the idea of your wonderful variation. Pinning, and sharing this evening US time on the Hearth and Soul Facebook page. Hope to see you at the first Hearth and Soul Link Party of 2018 on January 8th. Happy New Year to you and yours!
Sorry to read that you aren’t feeling well and miserable at not having your family with you on Christmas. I’m not surprised that you don’t feel the Christmas spirit. I guess your Christmas wish is that they all return safe and sound. The Cranberry Manhattans and Negronis look festive.
Thanks. My youngest is now in Cambodia, so just 10 more days to go.
Yummy. I would like this. I love cranberry.
Have a fabulous day. ♥