While decorating the house we made this festive cocktail. This recipe makes 4 drinks. With 1 1/2 cups of vodka 2 is the limit. I’m really glad I bought the mint springs. I almost skipped this, as funny as it sounds it really was a treat to smell the mint every time you take a sip. The secret to this drink is the crushed ice. Makes a crunchy delicious cocktail.
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges
- 1/2 orange, cut into slices
- 1 1/2 cups vodka
- 1 cup chilled Ginger Ale
- 4 mint springs
Preparation
- Bring sugar and water to a boil in a medium saucepan, stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat.
- Heat the syrup to a boil and then reduce heat to medium. Add the cranberries and simmer for 2-3 minutes until they just begin to burst. Remove from heat and let cool in syrup.
- Place syrup with cranberries in a large pitcher; add the lemon wedges and orange slices.
- Using a muddler or wooden spoon, vigorously mash the fruit.
- Stir in vodka and let steep for at least 5 minutes.
- Strain into a medium pitcher. Add Ginger ale.
- Fill 4 glasses with crushed ice ( very important part)
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and then pour half the cranberry mixture into the shaker and shake vigorously for 10 seconds, strain liquid into two glasses. Repeat.
- Mound additional ice on top of each glass and garnish with 3 candied cranberries and a mint sprig.
