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.

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December 2006

Product Reviews / Main Nibbles / Cocktails

Cranberry Martini Recipes

Cheers To The Holidays!

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
• Cranberry Lime Martini
• Cranberry-Infused Vodka

Basic Cranberry Martini

Ingredients Per Cocktail

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

Directions

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

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

Instructions

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

On The Rocks: Cranberry-Infused Vodka

Some vodka-lovers would sooner skip the martini and enjoy the vodka neat. If so, consider one of the cranberry-infused vodkas from Finlandia®, Matrioshka®, Smirnoff®, Stolichnaya® or 267®. 

Finlandia Cranberry Vodka	Matrioshka Cranberry Vodka	Smirnoff Cranberry Twist Vodka	Stoli Cranberi Vodka	267 Cranberry Infusion Vodka

Or, infuse your own. Generally when making infused vodka, the flavors should blend for four weeks or longer, but this recipe lets you do it in just 3 days.

Then, you can enjoy cranberry vodka straight up, on the rocks, or use it as a base for Cranberry Martinis the traditional way: just a tad of vermouth.

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup water
• 2 cups fresh or frozen and thawed cranberries
• 1 fifth good quality vodka, like Absolut®

Directions

• In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the sugar and water. Bring the mixture to a boil, tilting and swirling the pan occasionally. Lower heat and continue to cook, swirling occasionally, until the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture is slightly thickened (about 5 minutes).
• Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the cranberries and set pan aside for 2 hours.
• Transfer the cranberry mixture to a large covered bowl, jar or canister and add vodka (retain the bottle for later use.) Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 days, stirring occasionally. If you don’t have room in the refrigerator, keep in a cool, dark place.
• Strain the vodka into a large pitcher, reserving the cranberries. Using a funnel, pour the vodka back into the bottle. Place the bottle in the freezer until ready to serve. Keep the cranberries in the freezer, but defrost prior to serving (they defrost quickly).
• To serve, fill chilled shot glasses or rocks glasses with the vodka. Add a few cranberries to each. Serve immediately.

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