Cranberry Whiskey Sour

It’s the time of year for the holiday season and that means we need the perfect cocktail for parties — queue the cranberry whiskey sour. It’s a fun, bubbly twist and festive spin on a traditional whiskey sour. Plus, it doesn’t require eggs!

 

What is a Whiskey Sour?

Traditionally speaking, a classic whiskey sour is a blend of sweet, sour, and whiskey. It’s the perfect tangy-sweet cocktail. In many versions, the sour comes from fresh lemon juice, but it can be any type of citrus. In this case, we use lime juice and tart cranberry juice. You can even use bottled bitters.

The sweet element can range from a Luxardo or maraschino cherry to a touch of honey, agave nectar, simple syrup, or maple syrup. The older recipe used a homemade cinnamon spice syrup, but this was an added step (I am a lazy bartender) so most of our readers told us they just used plain old simple syrup with still rave results.

The next element that is sometimes included is egg white. Egg whites are used to give the drink a silky mouthfeel and lessen the harshness of sometimes harder cocktails. But not using them is perfectly fine too and results in a cleaner cocktail, in my opinion.

Ingredients

You’ll want to keep these simple ingredients on hand to whip up this cocktail any time.

• Whiskey – Choose your personal favorite! We like to use bourbon or rye whiskey. 
• Fresh Lime Juice – Lime gives the cocktail its signature citrusy flavor. 
• Cranberry Juice – This adds a bit of tart flavor to the drink.
• Simple Syrup – You can make your own simple syrup or buy it at the grocery store. 
• Club Soda, Seltzer Water, or Lemon-Lime Soda – You only need a bit to top the drink.
• Fresh Rosemary Sprig – This optional garnish gives the cocktail an elevated appearance.
• Fresh Cranberries – These add a seasonal touch to the drink during the chilly months. While it’s optional, we think it makes for a pretty presentation.

Variations

There are a bunch of ways to make this holiday drink your own signature cocktail.

• Spices – Add a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice.
• Ginger – Infuse simple syrup with ginger or use ginger beer or ginger ale for a spicy kick.
• Simple Syrup – To infuse even more cranberry flavor, use cranberry simple syrup.
• Orange – Add orange juice or a splash of Cointreau. You can also garnish with orange slices.
• Thyme – Use thyme instead of rosemary.
• Aquafaba – If you want the frothiness that egg whites add to a cocktail without fussing with raw eggs, try using aquafaba, the water from a can of chickpeas.
• Citrus – Swap out the lime juice for lemon juice.
• Format – Instead of individual servings, make a large batch in a pitcher and allow guests to top with the sparkling water or soda of their choice.
• Garnish – For a fun and sparkly garnish, skewer sugared cranberries and add them to the drink before serving. Or for a little bit of warm flavor and aroma, add cinnamon sticks. You can also add an orange slice or orange peel.
• Liquor – Switch up the liquor and use a dark rum or even gin.
• Glass – Swap out the Collins or rocks glass for a lowball glass or a mason jar.
• Rim – Garnish the rim with orange zest or decorator’s sugar.

How to Make a Cranberry Whiskey Sour Without Eggs

This cranberry spin on the classic cocktail is a breeze to shake up!

1. Combine and shake. Fill a cocktail shaker half full with ice before combining all of the ingredients except for the garnishes and any carbonated water or soda. Shake vigorously to combine the ingredients.
2. Pour. Strain the cocktail into a Collins glass or highball glass that has been half filled with ice. 
3. Garnish and serve. Add cranberries and rosemary sprigs. Serve immediately.

More Holiday Cocktails and Drinks

There’s nothing like snuggling up with a cocktail on a cold winter night. Here are some of our favorites.