Cranberry Old Fashioned
Nov 19, 2018, Updated Oct 14, 2025
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A Cranberry Old Fashioned is the ideal cocktail to bring a festive twist to your holiday happy hour. This seasonal take on the classic bourbon old fashioned swaps the traditional sugar cube or simple syrup for a spoonful of cranberry sauce, adding both brightness and depth to this spirit-forward drink. It’s tart, slightly sweet and beautifully balanced — the ideal cocktail for Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings.
If you’ve already made my Cranberry and Orange Sauce Recipe for the holiday meal, this is a creative and delicious way to put any leftovers to use. That rich, jammy sauce adds a pop of flavor that complements smooth bourbon or rye whiskey and the slight bitterness of Angostura bitters.
Why you’ll love this Cranberry Bourbon Old Fashioned
- Festive and seasonal: The cranberry and orange flavors capture the essence of the holidays.
- No waste recipe: An adult-friendly way to use leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving or holiday dinner.
- Simple but sophisticated: Just five ingredients for a cocktail that feels bar-quality.
- Easily customizable: Adjust the sweetness or spirit ratio to suit your taste.
Ingredients you’ll need
- 2 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey
- 1 heaping tablespoon cranberry orange sauce
- ½ ounce fresh-squeezed orange juice
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Ice
- Fresh cranberries and orange peel, for garnish
How to make a Cranberry Old Fashioned
Add bourbon, cranberry sauce, orange juice, and bitters to a cocktail shaker.
Top with ice and use a spoon to stir for 20 to 30 seconds, until cranberry sauce is evenly distributed.
Add a large ice cube to a rocks glass and strain the drink over the ice.
Garnish with an orange peel and a skewer of fresh cranberries.
Serve immediately and enjoy this festive cranberry bourbon old fashioned by the fire or as a pre-dinner drink.
Recipe tips & serving suggestions
- Use fresh cranberry sauce: Homemade versions tend to have a more vibrant flavor than canned, giving your cocktail a brighter color and balanced sweetness.
- Balance your sweetness: If your cranberry sauce is tart, add a small splash of simple syrup or a sugar cube to mellow the flavor.
- Try different garnishes: A smoked rosemary sprig makes this cocktail even more aromatic. It also adds to the festive nature if you’re serving this as a Christmas cocktail.
Cranberry Old Fashioned
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey
- 1-2 tablespoons cranberry orange sauce
- ½ ounce fresh-squeezed orange juice
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Ice
- Fresh cranberries and orange peel, for garnish
Instructions
- Add bourbon, cranberry sauce, orange juice, and bitters to a cocktail shaker.
- Top with ice and use a spoon to stir for 20 to 30 seconds, until cranberry sauce is evenly distributed.
- Add a large ice cube to a rocks glass and strain the drink over the ice.
- Garnish with an orange peel and a skewer of fresh cranberries.
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