Cocktails Made with Cranberry Juice

Cranberry Juice-Based Cocktails

Alcoholic drinks made with cranberry juice have been gaining popularity since the 1970s, and cranberry juice continues to be a key ingredient in many of today's most enjoyed cocktails. Listed here are some recipes and instructions on how to craft some of the more popular and delicious cranberry juice-based drinks around. Cheers! (and, as always, please drink responsibly).

Creative Commons photo courtesy Wikimedia/Stuart Webster

Cranberry Background

Cranberries are a group of evergreen dwarf shrubs or trailing vines that are found in acidic bogs throughout the cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere.

Cranberries are low, creeping shrubs or vines up to six feet long and two to eight in height; they have slender, wiry stems that are not thickly woody and have small evergreen leaves. The flowers are dark pink, with very distinct reflexed petals, leaving the style and stamens fully exposed and pointing forward. They are pollinated by domestic honey bees. The fruit is a berry that is larger than the leaves of the plant; it is initially white, but turns a deep red when fully ripe. It is edible, with an acidic taste that can overwhelm its sweetness.

Cranberries are a major commercial crop in certain American states and Canadian provinces. Most cranberries are processed into products such as juice, sauce, and sweetened dried cranberries, with the remainder sold fresh to consumers. Cranberry sauce is regarded as an indispensable....(read more on Wikipedia)

Public domain photo courtesy Wikimedia/K.Weller

The Maddress

Vodka, Cranberry Juice, and Orange Juice

'The Maddress' is simply two parts vodka, two parts cranberry juice, and three parts orange juice. Pour the three liquids on ice, stir or shake, serve and enjoy. Can be garnished with fruit for that tropical touch.

Creative Commons photo courtesy Wikipedia/M cyclops

Mixer Question

Sex on the Beach

Peach Schnapps, Vodka, Cranberry Juice, and Orange Juice

'Sex on the Beach' is made by combining one part peach schnapps, three parts vodka, four parts cranberry juice, and four parts orange juice in your favorite highball glass, Stir or shake before serving. May be garnished with an orange slice or cherry.

Creative Commons photo courtesy Wikimedia/B. Garten

The Cosmopolitain

Vodka, Triple Sec, Cranberry Juice, Rose's Lime Juice

In a cocktail shaker, pour in two parts vodka, one part each of the triple sec, cranberry and lime juices. Shake vigorously, and serve in a martini cocktail glass. May be garnished with a lime or lemon wedge.

Creative Commons photo courtesy Wikimedia/Rick A.

Seabreeze

Vodka, Cranberry Juice, and Grapefruit Juice

The Seabreeze combines one part vodka, two parts cranberry juice and two parts grapefruit juice over ice in a highball glass. Stir or shake and add your favorite fruit wedge as a garnish.

Public domain photo courtesy Wikimedia/Wendy

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Cranberry - Apple Rum

Apple Rum and Cranberry Juice

In a cocktail shaker, mix in two parts apple rum and one part cranberry juice with ice. Shake well, and serve in a cocktail glass.

Public domain photo courtesy Wikimedia/Phildade

Cranberry Gin

Gin, Cranberry Juice, Grenadine

In a highball glass shake or stir ice, one part gin, two parts cranberry juice and a splash or two of grenadine. Garnish with a citrus fruit wedge.

Creative Commons photo courtesy Wikimedia/Alyson Hurt

Bay Breeze

Vodka, Cranberry Juice and Pineapple Juice

Fill your favorite highball glass with ice, then add three parts vodka, and one part each of pineapple and cranberry juices, Shake or stir. Can be garnished with your favorite citrus fruit.

Creative Commons photo courtesy Wikimedia/Dainsleaf

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Thoughts on These Drinks? - Feel free to comment here. Bottoms up!

john on September 08, 2016:

made one with cran-cherry juice and oranges sqyeezed, and lemon squeezed, and of course vodka.

Laura Hofman from Naperville, IL on April 22, 2013:

These all sound tasty! Would like to try a Bay Breeze...already like the Sea Breeze. Makes me feel like I'm on vacation. Cheers!

anonymous on January 01, 2013:

My mouth is watering and I don't have a drop of cranberry juice in the house right now! That's amazing that only 5% of cranberries are sold fresh, or I suppose frozen. The real nice thing about using cranberry juice in all these wonderful drinks is that we would be practicing good urinary health at the same time, I don't think the alcohol would cancel that out. Done with yum!

Ronald Tucker from Louisville, Kentucky on September 28, 2012:

Refreshing!...looking at the photos of some of these mixed drinks made me think of my own attempt at creating an exotic signature drink!

SeleneMathew on May 04, 2011:

Drinking Cranberry juice regularly can help to reduce the presence of oral bacteria and prevent unhealthy gum disease caused by bacteria plaque.