Go Back

Thanksgiving Cranberry Bourbon Smash Cocktail

This festive cocktail combines bourbon, cranberry, orange juice, and ginger ale for a quick and delicious drink perfect for the holiday season.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings: 1 cocktail
Course: Beverage, Cocktail
Cuisine: American, Thanksgiving
Calories: 225
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cocktail Ingredients
  • 1.5 oz 1½ oz bourbon Choose a bourbon you enjoy sipping.
  • 1.5 oz 1½ oz orange juice Fresh-squeezed orange juice can be used for better flavor.
  • 1 tbsp 1 tablespoon jellied cranberry sauce You can substitute with whole-berry cranberry sauce.
  • 1 tbsp 1 tablespoon honey Maple syrup or simple syrup can be used as substitutes.
  • 1.5 oz 1½ oz 100% cranberry juice Cranberry juice cocktail can be used for a sweeter taste.
  • 0.5 sprig ½ sprig fresh rosemary, chopped Avoid crushing the rosemary too hard to prevent bitterness.
  • 1 splash splash ginger ale Ginger beer can be used for a bolder flavor.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Add the bourbon, orange juice, jellied cranberry sauce, honey, cranberry juice, and chopped rosemary to a cocktail shaker.
  2. Muddle gently until the cranberry sauce loosens and the ingredients blend together. Press the rosemary lightly to release its aroma.
  3. Close the shaker securely. Shake briefly to combine and chill the mixture, avoiding the addition of ginger ale.
  4. Add ice to a serving glass.
  5. Strain the cocktail mixture into the ice-filled glass.
  6. Top with ginger ale and give the drink a gentle stir. Serve immediately.

Notes

This cocktail tastes best freshly mixed. For make-ahead preparation, mix without ginger ale and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Thaw the juice mixture if frozen and add ginger ale before serving.