Cranberry Bourbon Sour Recipe

by | Sep 5, 2025 | Cocktail Recipes, Holiday Cocktails

Cranberry Bourbon Sour cocktail in a rocks glass with frothy top, ice cubes, orange slice, and fresh cranberries garnish on a marble bar top with blurred autumn background. Text reads Cranberry Bourbon Sour with Bartend Long Island logo.

Prep time: 7 minutes | Servings: 1 cocktail

This Cranberry Bourbon Sour takes the classic whiskey sour template and gives it a seasonal twist with tart cranberry. It’s one of our go-to fall bourbon cocktails because it’s balanced, festive, and incredibly easy to shake up at home.

If you’re searching for easy bourbon cocktails for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or holiday parties, this recipe is a winner. We love serving it with roasted turkey dinners or cheese boards because the cranberry cuts through rich, savory flavors beautifully.

About This Cranberry Bourbon Sour

A traditional whiskey sour blends whiskey, lemon, and sugar. Our seasonal riff adds cranberry juice (or homemade syrup) for color, tartness, and a festive holiday vibe. The bourbon’s caramel notes mellow the cranberry’s sharpness, making it both bright and warming.

Pro link: Hosting a holiday crowd? Use our Alcohol Shopping List Calculator to plan your bottles.

Ingredients

  • 2 oz bourbon
  • 1 oz cranberry juice (unsweetened preferred)
  • 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 0.5 oz simple syrup (or cranberry syrup)
  • Ice
  • Garnish: cranberries, lemon wheel, or rosemary sprig

Steps

  1. Shake: Add bourbon, cranberry juice, lemon juice, and syrup to a shaker with ice. Shake hard 12–15 seconds.
  2. Strain: Strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice.
  3. Garnish: Add floating cranberries, a lemon wheel, or rosemary sprig.

Bartender Tips

  • Balance to taste: Use unsweetened cranberry for tartness, or sweetened for a softer profile.
  • Bourbon style: A smooth, mid-range bourbon (like Bulleit or Buffalo Trace) works perfectly.
  • Glassware: Rocks glass over a big ice cube makes this cocktail feel elegant.

Flavor Pairings

  • Pairs with: orange, cinnamon, rosemary, ginger.
  • Food: Thanksgiving turkey, glazed ham, baked brie.

DIY Cranberry Syrup

Simmer 1 cup cranberries, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1/2 cup water for 10 minutes. Strain and cool. Store refrigerated for 1 week. Use in place of simple syrup for deeper cranberry flavor.

Variations

  • Spiced Cranberry Sour: Add a dash of cinnamon or clove bitters.
  • Egg White Version: Add 1 egg white and dry shake before ice for a frothy texture.
  • Mocktail Sour: Replace bourbon with sparkling water and a splash of apple cider.

When to Serve

Best for Thanksgiving aperitifs, holiday parties, or cozy nights by the fire. Its festive red color makes it a showstopper cocktail for gatherings.

Cranberry Bourbon Sour FAQs

What bourbon works best with cranberry?

Smooth bourbons with caramel and vanilla notes (like Bulleit or Buffalo Trace) complement tart cranberry beautifully.

Can I batch Cranberry Bourbon Sours?

Yes! Multiply ingredients by 6–8, mix in a pitcher without ice, and refrigerate. Shake or stir with ice per drink when serving.

Can I make it less sweet?

Use unsweetened cranberry juice and reduce syrup to 0.25 oz for a sharper, more tart drink.

See more Cocktail Recipes or try our Maple Old Fashioned.