When the air starts getting crisp and you’re looking for that perfect seasonal sipping experience, you know I’m all over it! We need drinks that taste cozy but still feel totally festive, right? Forget complicated syrups that take days; I found the absolute winner for bridging that gap between sweet holiday flavors and a proper spirit kick. I’m talking about the Cranberry Bourbon Smash. I first whipped this up years ago during an impromptu Friendsgiving feast. I was totally scrambling through my pantry, found an old jar of jellied cranberry sauce—don’t judge!—and just went with my gut. What came out? A bright, ruby-red cocktail that everyone swore tasted like autumn captured perfectly in a glass. Trust me, this has been my go-to drink ever since. You absolutely have to make this cranberry almond orange bundt cake to go with it, by the way!
Why This Cranberry Bourbon Smash is Your New Go-To Cocktail
I know you’re busy hosting or just trying to relax after a long week, so I picked this recipe because it hits all the right notes without demanding your entire evening. It’s ready faster than you can find the good cocktail napkins! If you need something for your next get-together, check out my Cranberry Orange Prosecco Punch too.
- Quick Prep Time for Your Cranberry Bourbon Smash: Seriously, five minutes, tops. That includes getting the ice ready! No standing around waiting for syrups to reduce here.
- Approachable Yet Impressive Flavor: It tastes like you spent hours sourcing fancy ingredients. The bourbon warms you up, the cranberry is perfectly tart, and that little hint of rosemary just elevates the entire experience. Wow!
Essential Ingredients for the Perfect Cranberry Bourbon Smash
Making a dynamite cocktail starts with knowing exactly what you need, and honestly, this list is surprisingly simple. We’re not looking for a dozen obscure liqueurs; we’re grabbing quality staples that sing together. Seriously, the quality of that bourbon makes a huge difference here. If you’re looking for more crowd-pleasing drinks, I always keep my Cosmopolitan Party Punch Recipe handy for larger groups!
- Bourbon: One and a half ounces, which is your standard single shot.
- Orange Juice: Another one and a half ounces—make sure it’s fresh-squeezed if you can swing it!
- Jellied cranberry sauce: One packed tablespoon. Yep, the kind that came out of the can molded!
- Honey: Just one small tablespoon to balance that tartness.
- 100% cranberry juice: One and a half ounces of straight, pure stuff.
- Fresh rosemary: Half a sprig, finely chopped. Don’t skip the fresh herb!
- Ginger ale: Just a splash right at the end for a little lift.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
When we talk about the cranberry sauce, you really want the jellied kind for this Cranberry Bourbon Smash. It dissolves smoother when you muddle it and gives us that jammy texture we’re aiming for. Whole berry sauce just doesn’t break down the same way, trust me on this one—it’ll leave big chunks after shaking. If you happen to be out of fresh rosemary, you can absolutely swap it out! Try a dash or two of Angostura bitters in its place; it gives you that aromatic complexity without needing the fresh herb.
Step-by-Step: Making Your Cranberry Bourbon Smash
Okay, this is where the magic happens! Even though this drink is called a smash, we aren’t just stirring things around; we need a little bit of mechanical action to wake up those flavors. It’s so easy, but I want to make sure you don’t accidentally turn your beautiful herbs into mulch. If you’re planning a big bash, I have a great Non-Alcoholic Thanksgiving Punch Recipe that can keep the non-drinkers happy too!
Muddling for Maximum Flavor in Your Cranberry Bourbon Smash
Grab your cocktail shaker—this is your muddling bowl for now. Toss in that chopped rosemary, the tablespoon of jellied cranberry sauce, and the honey first. Now, use your muddler gently! You’re not trying to grind spices; you’re just coaxing the aromatic oils out of the rosemary and dissolving that thick cranberry sauce into the honey. A few firm presses and a little twist is all it takes. We want fragrant, open rosemary leaves, not tiny green flecks floating everywhere later.
Shaking and Serving the Cranberry Bourbon Smash
Once you’ve gently muddled that base, go ahead and pour in your bourbon, orange juice, and 100% cranberry juice right into the shaker. Top it with ice—fill it up almost to the top! Now, seal that baby up tight. You have to shake this hard for about fifteen seconds until the outside of the shaker feels frosty cold. That chilling process is crucial! Then, always strain it through a fine sieve right into your ice-filled glass. That double strain keeps those tiny rosemary bits out, giving you a beautifully smooth drink. Finish it off with just a splash of ginger ale for a little fizz, and you’re done!
Tips for an Expert Level Cranberry Bourbon Smash
Okay, the basic recipe is rock solid, but if you want to impress your guests and make this Cranberry Bourbon Smash truly sing, you need a couple of these little insider tricks. I find that elevating a simple cocktail is all about temperature control and presentation. Don’t skip these steps—they take zero extra time but deliver huge flavor payoff!
First, and this is non-negotiable: Chill your serving glass! Seriously, put whatever rocks glass or tumbler you plan to use in the freezer for at least ten minutes before you even start mixing. A very cold glass keeps the drink perfectly chilled longer, which means you don’t water down the bourbon with too much shaking or dilute it quickly while sipping.
Next, think about that orange juice. If you can squeeze fresh oranges, please do. The bottled stuff works in a pinch—we all have those moments—but fresh citrus juice is so much brighter and less metallic. That brightness cuts through the warmth of the bourbon beautifully.
For the garnish, since we used fresh rosemary in the muddle, consider grabbing a fresh sprig and lightly slapping it between your palms right before dropping it in the glass. This is called ‘waking up’ the herb. It releases a huge burst of fresh, piney aroma as the guest brings the glass up to take their first sip. It’s sensory magic, and it costs nothing! I love pairing this drink with my dark chocolate covered cranberry treats on the side for an extra holiday feeling.
Finally, regarding the bourbon itself: Don’t feel like you need to use your absolute best, most expensive bottle, but definitely avoid anything super bottom-shelf. A mid-range bourbon with a slightly higher rye content really complements the spice from the ginger ale and the herbal notes from the rosemary. It adds a little necessary backbone to stand up to all that fruit!
Variations on the Classic Cranberry Bourbon Smash
The beauty of a good ‘Smash’ cocktail is that it’s essentially a template, meaning we can have a ton of fun tweaking it without breaking the fundamental flavor profile. Your Cranberry Bourbon Smash can transform slightly based on what liquor you have on hand or what you’re craving that evening. It’s endlessly adaptable, which is what makes it such a staple in my bar cart!
My absolute favorite swap when I want something with a little more spice and bite is ditching the bourbon entirely for rye whiskey. Rye brings its own peppery, slightly dry edge that pairs unbelievably well with the tartness of the cranberry and the sweetness of the honey. It makes the whole drink feel a bit bolder, but it still works perfectly with the rosemary.
If you want to play with the citrus, try swapping out half the orange juice for grapefruit juice. Grapefruit introduces a wonderful, slightly bitter dimension that keeps the drink from tasting too overtly sweet. Just remember to keep the orange juice ratio high enough so you don’t lose that classic fruity backbone.
And speaking of complexity, if you find yourself wanting just that little *something* extra—maybe you’re using a milder bourbon—throw in a dash or two of Angostura bitters when you add the main liquids to the shaker. Bitters are like the salt and pepper of cocktails; they just tie everything together and deepen the flavor profile without adding overt flavor themselves. We’re keeping the spirit of the Cranberry Bourbon Smash strong, just giving it a little wardrobe upgrade!
When you’re done mixing up these fun versions, you absolutely need something to snack on. Check out these incredible cranberry pistachio shortbread cookies—they are perfect alongside any of these smash variations!
Serving Suggestions for Your Cranberry Bourbon Smash
A great cocktail should never be served alone, right? It needs friends on the plate to really shine! Because the Cranberry Bourbon Smash has that lovely mix of sweet fruit, warming spice, and rich bourbon finish, you want pairings that can handle a little complexity. Think less heavy dinner and more elegant appetizers that bridge the sweet and savory gap.
My absolute favorite thing to serve alongside this is something salty. The saltiness really makes the fruitiness pop! Try bringing out some simple, high-quality salted nuts—maybe some candied pecans or spiced walnuts. If you’re feeling a little more ambitious, anything involving brie cheese is a guaranteed win because the creamy fat balances the acidity of the orange and cranberry perfectly. You should definitely try my recipe for cranberry brie bites; they are practically mandatory with this drink!
If you want something savory, keep the portions small. Little baked goat cheese tarts with a tiny drizzle of honey will match the drink’s profile without overwhelming it. Honestly, a well-planned spread makes hosting so much easier!
Making Ahead and Storing Your Cranberry Bourbon Smash Components
Now, I know I told you the Cranberry Bourbon Smash takes five minutes, and it truly does when you’re mixing it one drink at a time. But if you’re expecting company—and let’s be real, once people taste this they’ll all be asking for one!—you absolutely need to prep the flavor base ahead of time. This makes assembly lightning fast. We aren’t making the whole cocktail ahead of time, because you need that fresh shake and chill, but we can prepare the stuff that clumps up or needs breaking down.
What you want to do is make a concentrated version of the muddled ingredients. Take your honey, jellied cranberry sauce, and chopped rosemary. Instead of just muddling it quickly in the shaker, gently heat these three things together in a small saucepan over very low heat for just two minutes, stirring constantly until the jam loosens up. You don’t want a full simmer, just enough warmth to incorporate everything beautifully.
This warmed, mixed base is what you’ll store. Let it cool completely on the counter, and then transfer it to a small, airtight jar. You can keep this base mixture right in the fridge for up to ten days! That means when a guest asks for a Cranberry Bourbon Smash, all you have to do is measure out your bourbon, orange juice, cranberry juice, add a spoonful of your chilled base, shake it up hard over ice, strain, and top with ginger ale. Done! It cuts your active prep to about sixty seconds per drink.
Prep work like this saves my sanity every holiday. While you’re prepping cocktail bases, you might as well get some baking done too! These baked cranberry brie bites are perfect sturdy snacks to have ready while you’re serving up these fresh smashes.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Cranberry Bourbon Smash
I get so many great questions whenever I post this recipe, which just tells me you all know a good drink when you see one! Whether you’re planning a big party or just mixing one up for yourself after a tough week, a few details usually pop up. Don’t worry if you have questions about substitutes or ingredients—I’ve got you covered right here. If you’re looking for cozy breakfast options after your cocktail night, you must check out my apple cinnamon oatmeal recipe!
Can I make this Cranberry Bourbon Smash non-alcoholic?
Absolutely! This is such a flavorful mix of juice and herbs that it works beautifully, even without the bourbon. Since we need to replace the body and depth of the spirit, I recommend using a high-quality non-alcoholic bourbon alternative if you have one on hand. If you don’t, no problem! Just use strongly brewed black tea (like English Breakfast or Earl Grey) instead of the bourbon measurement. Brew it strong, let it cool, and use that same 1.5 ounces. The tannins in the tea give the drink the structure it needs.
What is the best type of bourbon for a smash cocktail?
You don’t have to break out the cellar reserves for this one, but I do have a sweet spot. Since we are mixing it with aggressive flavors like cranberry and orange, I usually lean toward a mid-range bourbon, about 85 to 90 proof. What I look for specifically is one that has a higher rye content in the mash bill. Rye adds a lovely peppery, spicy dryness that cuts through the sweetness of the honey and cranberry sauce beautifully. It gives the Cranberry Bourbon Smash a little extra personality!
Also, remember that chilling factor I always talk about? If you plan on making several of these for a holiday party, make sure you have plenty of ice ready for shaking! Nobody likes a lukewarm cocktail, trust me.
Nutritional Estimate for One Cranberry Bourbon Smash
I always feel slightly guilty when I look at the stats, but honestly, after a long day of hosting or just dealing with life, you deserve a treat! Knowing what’s in what you’re sipping helps keep you mindful, even if we aren’t aiming for low-calorie here. These numbers are based on standard measurements of the ingredients listed above, so remember that if you swap out, say, honey for a different sweetener, your totals will shift!
For one standard single-serving Cranberry Bourbon Smash, here is what you’re generally looking at:
- Calories: 225
- Carbohydrates: 33 grams
- Protein: 1 gram
- Fat: 0.2 grams
- Sugar: 31 grams
It’s definitely a sweet treat, thanks mostly to the honey and the cranberry sauce, but that small amount of fat helps carry all those wonderful bourbon and spice flavors across your palate. If you want to get to know me and the philosophy behind why I love sharing these tried-and-true recipes that balance flavor and real life, head over to my About Me page! Cheers!
Cranberry Bourbon Smash
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Add the bourbon, orange juice, cranberry sauce, cranberry juice, honey, and chopped rosemary to a cocktail shaker. Muddle to combine. Place the top on the shaker.
- Fill a glass with ice.
- Strain the drink into the glass. Garnish with a splash of ginger ale.