I know what you're thinking. And yup, I'm referring to that same cranberry juice you used in college to hide the taste of cheap liquor. Don't get me wrong. Cranberry juice is overused and in the wrong hands, tends to make cocktails undrinkable. Well, we found two that I think will change your mind. Not to mention, sometimes you just need a few easy cocktails up your sleeve.
The first one comes from chef Sean Wight. His Pink Dogwood actually calls for homemade Southern Comfort. Now, I'm sure you can use the original if you have it on hand. But if you want to get fancy and impress your guest his recipe calls for mixing a 750ml higher proof bourbon with a split vanilla bean, 4 whole cloves, 1/4 orange, cut into 4 pieces and 1/4 peach cut into 4 pieces and 1 cinnamon stick in a large wide mouth mason jar. Let steep, covered, for 5-7 days. Then strain, discarding all the fruit/spices and store in an air tight container.
The second cocktail for this evening is by mixologist Matt Sayer in Aiken, SC. His concoction, The Parisian, uses a combination of cranberry and lime juice that nicely cuts the sweetness of the St. Germain making this a very easy cocktail to imbibe. The wife also mentions, that the color will go over well with any ladies that brunch in your life.
His Cocktail - Pink Dogwood
2 oz Homemade Southern Comfort (recipe above)
1/2 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
1/2 oz Cointreau
1/2 oz Simple syrup (used 1/4 oz)
3/4 oz Cranberry juice
Lime wheel garnish
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add all ingredients except garnish. Shake until chilled. Strain over a double old fashioned filled with ice. Garnish with lime wheel.
Her Cocktail - The Parisian
2 oz vodka
1 oz St. Germain (used slightly less)
1 oz Cranberry juice
1/2 lime, juiced
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add all ingredients except garnish. Shake until chilled. Strain into a martini/coupe glass and garnish with orange peel.
Happy drinking!