Cranberry Martini
Forget the regular Martini this holiday season. Opt for a Cranberry Martini, or Crantini, as it’s known by certain fans. Photo copyright Penny Burt | IST.
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December 2006
Updated December 2008

Product Reviews / Main Nibbles / Cocktails

Cranberry Martini Recipes

Toast The Holidays With A “Crantini”

 

It’s so obvious that seasonal cranberries and the popular martini are a marriage made in cocktail heaven. The Cranberry Martini, or Crantini, makes holiday gatherings special. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, everyone should be toasting with them instead of the same old Bloody Marys and Appletinis.

At its simplest, the Cranberry Martini, a.k.a. Crantini, is a simple variation of a Cosmopolitan, which combines vodka, cranberry juice, triple sec and lime juice. The simplest Cranberry Martini recipe leaves out the last two ingredients. Whether you like a gin or vodka martini, there are several ways to approach this cocktail.

Basic Cranberry Martini

Ingredients Per Cocktail

  • 2 ounces vodka or gin
  • 1/2 to 1 ounce vermouth (optional)
  • 1/2 ounce cranberry liqueur or 2 ounces cranberry juice
  • Fresh, frozen or dried cranberries for garnish

Preparation

  1. Pour the first three ingredients into a cocktail shaker or mixing glass with 2 ice cubes. Shake for 10 seconds and strain into a chilled martini glass.

  2. Float 3 cranberries for garnish.

 

Cranberry Lime Martini

A citrusy variation that showcases the flavor synergies between lime and gin.

Ingredients Per Cocktail

  • 2 parts gin
  • 2 parts freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 2 parts cranberry juice
  • Lime wedge(s) for garnish

Preparation

  • Stir ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
  • Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.