Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour
This Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour is tart and boozy with a hint of sweetness and a flavor profile that is perfect for the winter holidays. You’ll love this holiday spin on the classic whiskey sour!
What Makes this Whiskey Sour Special?
Sours are one of the oldest families of cocktail. Just liquor, citrus, and sweetener, in balance. Think margaritas, daiquiris, amaretto sours, and of course, the classic whiskey sour.
What makes this cranberry orange whiskey sour special is how it keeps the classic bones of a whiskey sour while pulling in cold-weather flavor. No cranberry juice here because that’s not traditional! Instead, a spiced cranberry orange syrup takes the place of simple syrup, adding depth and a little warmth.
Here’s why I think you’ll love this holiday cocktail:
✔ It’s bold and balanced. Tart, sweet, warm, and citrusy all at once
✔ The syrup can be made ahead, so mixing is quick when guests show up
✔ It feels fancy, but it’s really easy to shake up (yes, even with egg white)
Cheers!
-Katie
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Tools Use to Make a Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour
You don’t need fancy barware, but having the right tools makes this cranberry holiday cocktail easier to mix. Here’s what I recommend having ready before you start:
- Small Saucepan — for simmering the cranberry simple syrup.
- Measuring Cups — for measuring simple syrup ingredients.
- Fine Mesh Strainer — to strain the cooked cranberries out of the simple syrup after cooking.
- Mason Jar — perfect for storing leftover simple syrup in the fridge.
- Cocktail Shaker — you’ll need this to shake the cocktail and froth the egg whites.
- Cocktail Strainer — helps with a smooth pour, especially if you want to double strain.
- Jigger — the easiest way to measure the ingredients in this holiday cocktail.
What’s in a Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour?
This festive whiskey sour has two key parts: a homemade spiced cranberry orange simple syrup and the cocktail itself. You’ll find all the measurements and detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Here’s what you’ll need to have on hand before getting started:
Spiced Cranberry Orange Simple Syrup
- Fresh Cranberries: make the cocktail gorgeous in color and bring that punch of tart cranberry flavor. You can use frozen cranberries if you don’t have any fresh cranberries. No need to thaw them first.
- Water and Granulated Sugar: classic 1:1 ratios for this simple syrup.
- Cinnamon Stick: this adds a hint of fall spice to the cocktail.
- Orange Zest: layers in extra citrus oils and aroma.
Katie’s Tip
Make the syrup ahead, and mixing’s a breeze when it’s time to pour. Syrup keeps in the fridge for a week, or freeze in cubes and defrost just what you need.
Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour
- Bourbon Whiskey: Use what you like to sip. Bourbon is rounder and vanilla-forward; rye’s got more spice.
- Fresh Orange Juice and Lemon Juice: the “sour” in the cocktail. A whiskey sour traditionally uses just lemon juice, but I use both for a slightly softer flavor. Plus, that hint of orange that goes so well with cranberry.
- Cranberry Orange Simple Syrup: This easy syrup adds sweet-tart flavor and cozy spice.
- Egg White: Totally optional but makes a difference. You get that creamy texture and foam top without making it heavy. Pasteurized egg white if you want to play it safe.
Making a Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour
The most time-consuming part of this recipe is making the cranberry orange simple syrup, but that can be done ahead of time.
Once you’ve got your syrup ready, the rest comes together in just a couple minutes. I like to make my whiskey sour with an egg white for that creamy, foamy texture, but it’s totally optional.
- Make the simple syrup: Head over to this post the the recipe for cranberry simple syrup for all the. details. The only thing you’ll be doing different in this recipe is adding the orange zest and a cinnamon stick to the ingredients as they cook.
- Make the whiskey sour: Measure all of the cranberry orange cocktail ingredients into an empty cocktail shaker.
- First shake: Shake the mixture vigorously, without any ice, for about 30 seconds.
- Second shake: Remove the lid and add ice to the cocktail shaker. Replace the lid and shake the cocktail for 30 more seconds.
- Serve: Strain the cocktail, dividing it between two glasses. Serve immediately.
The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.
Shaking a Whiskey Sour
Whiskey sours are always shaken. Shaking helps blend the citrus, spirit, and syrup evenly, and if you’re using egg white, it creates that creamy foam on top. But it isn’t just for looks. It gives the drink a delicious taste and silky texture.
There are two ways you can shake your cranberry orange whiskey sour. There is no wrong way, just choose according to your preference.
Reverse dry shake — Add the ingredients to your cocktail shaker, shake once WITH ice, then strain out the ice and shake for a second time. This results in an even foamier cocktail.
Dry shake — Add the ingredients to your cocktail shaker, shake once WITHOUT ice, then add the ice and shake for a second time. This create a layer of egg white foam on the top of your drink.
A Quick Note on Egg Whites
You can totally skip the egg white if you want to. Your cranberry whiskey sour will still be tasty, just a little lighter in texture and less frothy on top.
That said, if you’re wondering whether it’s safe to include: yes, it’s generally considered safe! The alcohol and citrus help reduce risk. Still not sure? Look for pasteurized eggs at the grocery store (they’re safe to use raw), or you can pasteurize eggs at home if you’re planning to mix up a few cocktails.
Got questions about how to make this cranberry orange cocktail recipe? Feel free to leave your questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.
How to Garnish Your Cocktail
Want to dress up your cranberry orange whiskey sour for a holiday happy hour? Here are a few festive ideas:
- Fresh Rosemary Sprigs – Adds a pop of green and a subtle herbal note that works well with cranberry and citrus.
- Orange Twist – Simple, pretty, and classic. Here’s how to make an orange twist if you’ve never tried it before.
- Sugared Cranberries – for extra holiday flair, try threading sugared fresh cranberries onto a cocktail pick. They’re always pretty paired with cranberry cocktails, easy to make, and tasty!
- Dried Orange Slices – Great for winter cocktails, and you can use extras for decor or gifting. Learn how to make dried orange slices.
- Cinnamon Sticks – cinnamon sticks always make an easy holiday cocktail garnish when you don’t have time for anything fancy.
Recipe Tips
- Wash the outside of the orange first — because you’re zesting the orange for the simple syrup, you want to clean the outside of the orange first.
- Don’t serve over ice — Whiskey sours are not served over ice because the ice dilutes them. If you want your drink to stay cold longer, you can pre-chill your glass by filling it with ice or popping it in the freezer for a few minutes before adding the cocktail.
More Holiday Cocktail Recipes
Get into the holiday spirit with some of my favorite festive sips! Perfect for holiday parties, cozying up by the fire, or just want something seasonal to wind down with.
Don’t see what you’re looking for here? Check out all of my cocktail recipes in the recipe index and for even more ideas.
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Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour
This cranberry orange whiskey sour is tart, smooth, and just sweet enough—with warm spices, real fruit syrup, and a velvety egg white foam. A festive twist on a classic.
Ingredients
For the Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour
- 3 ounces Bourbon Whiskey or Rye Whiskey
- 1 ¼ - 1 ½ ounces Spiced Cranberry Orange Simple Syrup
- ¾ ounces Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
- 1 ounce Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
- 1 - 2 Egg White(s)
- 6 dashes Orange Cocktail Bitters
For the Spiced Cranberry Orange Simple Syrup
- 1 recipe Cranberry Simple Syrup
- Zest of 1 Orange
- 1 Cinnamon Stick
Instructions
- Prepare the cranberry simple syrup according to the recipe instructions, adding the zest of one orange and one cinnamon stick to the ingredients at the same time as the other ingredients are added.
- Measure the whiskey, simple syrup, orange juice, lemon juice, egg white, and bitters into an empty cocktail shaker; don’t add any ice yet.
- Shake the mixture vigorously, without any ice, for about 30 seconds.
- Then, remove the lid and add ice to the cocktail shaker.
- Replace the lid and shake the cocktail for 30 more seconds.
- Strain the cocktail, dividing it between two glasses.
- Garnish as desired and serve immediately.
Notes
How to Shake a Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour
You have two options for shaking this cocktail:
- Dry shake — Add the ingredients to your cocktail shaker, shake once WITHOUT ice, then add the ice and shake for a second time. This create a layer of egg white foam on the top of your drink.
- Reverse dry shake — Add the ingredients to your cocktail shaker, shake once WITH ice, then strain out the ice and shake for a second time. This results in an even foamier cocktail.
Cocktail Measurement Conversions (serves 2)
- 90 ml Bourbon Whiskey
- 40 ml Cranberry Simple Syrup
- 30 ml Fresh Lemon Juice
- 20 ml Fresh Lemon Juice
- 20 ml Egg White
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1 cocktailAmount Per Serving: Calories: 48Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 31mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 0gSugar: 9gProtein: 2g
GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy. This provided information is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.
Try this Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour
Next time you’re looking for delicious cocktails to serve at your holiday parties, give this Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour recipe a try!
Did You Try This Recipe? I’d love to hear what you thought of my festive spin on the classic whiskey sour! Leave a comment and a review below. Your feedback helps others and makes my day!
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