25 Days of Christmas Cocktails: Cranberry Orange Bourbon with Brandied Cranberries

A few months ago I found myself exploring the Urban Bourbon Trail in Louisville, and this Vodka-lovin’ girl found a new love – The Old Fashioned.  I’m now working my way through all the Old Fashioned variations I’ve found – and I haven’t found one I didn’t like, but, being partial to cranberries and oranges, this is a favorite.  It takes a little more time to prepare the components, but it’s very much worth it.  From The Little Epicurean, serves 1

2 oz fresh squeezed orange juice

2 oz bourbon
1 1/2 tsp orange ginger simple syrup (recipe follows)
1 1/2 tsp brandied cranberries syrup (recipe follows)dash of bitters
Simple & Crisp dried orange crisps optional

Fill highball glass half full of crushed ice.  Add orange juice, bourbon, orange ginger simple syrup, brandied cranberries syrup, and a dash of bitters.  Stir to combine.  Add additional ice, if necessary.  Garnish with brandied cranberries and dried orange crisp.

Orange Ginger Simple Syrup:
1 cup water
1 cup granulated sugar
4-inch piece ginger, peeled and cut into small matchsticks
orange peels from half an orangeIn a medium pot, combine water, sugar, ginger, and orange peels. Bring mixture to a boil until sugar dissolves.  Remove from heat. Cover pot with lid and let steep for 20 minutes.  Strain ginger and orange peels.  Transfer simple syrup to an airtight container and store in the fridge until ready to use.  Keeps in the fridge for two weeks.

Brandied Cranberries (in syrup):
6 oz fresh cranberries, washed and picked
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup water
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 cup brandy

In a small pot, bring water and sugar to a boil.  Add cranberries and stir until coated in syrup.   Cook for 30-45 seconds just before the cranberries start to pop open.  Remove from heat and transfer to a 1/2 liter jar.  Add cinnamon stick.  Pour in brandy.  Pour in enough sugar syrup to fill the jar.  Cover with lid and let chill in the fridge for at lease 48 hours before using.  The longer it sits, the better it gets!