Get ready to dazzle your holiday guests with a cocktail that’s as festive as a twinkling Christmas tree! In this year's Cranberry Cocktails for Christmas series, we've already sipped on a refreshing cranberry gin fizz, a vibrant cranberry blue Christmas cocktail, and a pepperminty cranberry martini.
But today, we’re stepping up the cozy factor with a Cranberry Cinnamon Whiskey Sour—a cocktail brimming with holiday cheer, topped with frothy perfection, and garnished with frozen cranberries and a sunny lemon wedge.
Doesn’t that sound like the perfect drink to toast to the season?
As a Christmas enthusiast, my home is a festive wonderland by early November—string lights, sparkling ornaments, and the sweet aroma of cinnamon and cloves fill the air.
For me, Christmas isn’t just a day; it’s a feeling that stretches across weeks of baking cookies, sipping hot drinks, and sharing special moments with loved ones. And nothing makes my heart merrier than crafting holiday treats and cocktails that bring smiles to everyone who tries them.
💕 Thank you
I have to take a moment to raise a glass to my ever-patient taste-testers—family, friends, and colleagues—who bravely sample every experiment I whip up in my kitchen. Your feedback, both kind and candid, shapes the recipes I’m so excited to share with my readers. Thank you for being my unofficial (but very appreciated!) quality control team.
Now, it’s your turn to become a cocktail maestro! The secret to the velvety froth on a sour cocktail lies in mastering the art of the dry shake—mixing the egg white with the other ingredients first, before adding ice to chill and dilute. This step ensures a silky, airy foam that makes your cocktail not just delicious but Instagram-worthy too.
So, grab your shaker, dust off your Christmas playlist, and let’s make magic in a glass. This Cranberry Cinnamon Whiskey Sour is destined to become the star of your holiday celebrations. Cheers to a season full of flavor, sparkle, and joy!
🥘 Ingredients
- Whiskey
- Maker's Mark offers notes of caramel and soft spices. It pairs beautifully with cinnamon and the tartness of cranberries.
- Bulleit Bourbon has a higher rye content, which gives it a spicier, bolder flavor. This works well if you want to highlight the cinnamon notes.
- Woodford Reserve adds layers of dried fruit, vanilla, and spice, enhancing the festive flavors.
- Four Roses Small Batch offers hints of spice, vanilla, and honey. It’s a versatile choice that complements both the tartness of the cranberries and the warmth of the cinnamon.
- Buffalo Trace offers notes of toffee, vanilla, and baking spices.
- Jim Beam is a solid and approachable choice for this cocktail.
- Cranberry juice
- Fresh lemon juice
- Ground cinnamon, just a dash!
- Orange bitters
- Egg white
- Garnish - frozen cranberries rolled in granulated sugar on a cocktail pike and a slice of lemon
See the recipe card for quantities.
🔪 Instructions
Step 1: Separate the egg, reserving the egg white for the cocktail. Save the yolk—it’s perfect for baking cookies or cakes! Don’t toss it; freeze it for later festive creations.
Step 2: In a cocktail shaker (without ice), combine the egg white with whiskey, cranberry juice, freshly squeezed lemon juice, a dash of ground cinnamon, and a few drops of orange bitters.
Step 3: Dry shake vigorously to create an emulsion, forming a velvety foam that gives this cocktail its signature frothy finish.
Step 4: Add cubed ice to the shaker and shake again to chill the mixture to perfection.
Step 5: Fine strain the cocktail into a chilled cocktail glass, letting the festive aroma set the mood.
Step 6: For a sparkling garnish, skewer frozen cranberries on a cocktail pick, roll them in granulated sugar or edible glitter powder, and place them gently across the glass. Add a slice of lemon for a bright pop of color, and voilà—your merry Cranberry Cinnamon Whiskey Sour is ready to sip and savor!
🍽 Equipment
- Cutting board & sharp knife
- Measuring tools / Jigger
- Cocktail shaker
- Fine strainer
- Cocktail pike
- Cocktail glass
If you make this recipe, let me know how you liked it by ★★★★★ star rating it and leaving a comment below. This would be awesome! You can also sign up for our Newsletter or follow me on Pinterest or Instagram and share your creation with me. Just tag me @combinegoodflavors and hashtag #combinegoodflavors, so I don't miss it.
📖 Recipe
Cranberry Whiskey Sour with Cinnamon
Equipment
- Cutting board & Sharp knife
- Cocktail pike
- Cocktail Glass
Ingredients
- 1 Egg
- 2 oz Whiskey
- 1 oz Cranberry juice
- ¾ oz Fresh lemon juice
- 1 dash Ground cinnamon
- 3 dashes Orange bitters
- Cubed ice for the shaker
Garnish - sugar covered cranberries
- 4-5 Frozen cranberries
- Granulated sugar very fine
- Lemon slice
Instructions
- Separate 1 Egg, saving the egg white for the cocktail. Store the yolk—perfect for baking cookies or cakes—in the freezer for later.1 Egg
- In a cocktail shaker without ice, combine the egg white, 2 oz Whiskey, 1 oz Cranberry juice, ¾ oz Fresh lemon juice, 1 dash Ground cinnamon, and 3 dashes Orange bitters.2 oz Whiskey, 1 oz Cranberry juice, ¾ oz Fresh lemon juice, 1 dash Ground cinnamon, 3 dashes Orange bitters
- Dry shake the mixture vigorously to create a frothy emulsion, blending the egg white and liquids into a silky foam.
- Add Cubed ice to the shaker and shake again to chill the cocktail thoroughly.Cubed ice
- Fine strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish with a cocktail pick of 4-5 Frozen cranberries rolled in Granulated sugar or edible glitter powder. Add a Lemon slice, and serve.4-5 Frozen cranberries, Granulated sugar, Lemon slice
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
⛑️ Food Safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
For further information, check Safe Food Handling - FDA.
Juyali says
Yum! This is so good. Reminded me of my favorite Peruvian drink, Pisco Sour. So good! Holiday cheer with a kick! 😉
Nora says
Thank you so much, Juyali! I am happy you liked it!
Liz says
Such a tasty autumnal twist on a classic cocktail! We loved these!
Criss says
This cranberry whiskey sour with cinnamon was so refreshing and festive! The balance of sweet, tart, and a hint of warmth from the cinnamon made it perfect for the season.
Nicole Kendrick says
I'm going to be serving this to everyone at our Thanksgiving dinner! I made it last night to test it out, and it is Amazing!