Orange cranberry whiskey sour great libation for the holidays

| December 18, 2024 12:00 AM

Whiskey sour is a bourbon-based cocktail traditionally made with Bitters, bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and an egg white.

These ingredients (sans bitters) are added to a cocktail shaker filled with chipped ice and shaken until the egg white is foamy and thick. The ingredients are strained into a coupe or double old-fashioned glass, topped with a few dashes of bitters, topped with a Luxardo cherry, cranberries and garnished with a lemon or orange peel. The egg white spills out last into the glass creating a luxurious foam, similar to the milk foam of a barista-style coffee drink.

The entire cocktail is sharp, sweet, and slightly tart. It is a perfect cocktail to enjoy if you want to explore bourbon, but it is too strong for your palate. The overall taste is rich, oaky, and has a silky texture from the egg white.

ORANGE CRANBERRY WHISKEY SOUR

Makes two cocktails

INGREDIENTS

3 oz Bourbon

3-4 dashes orange or grapefruit bitters

4 oz. unsweetened cranberry juice

2 oz fresh lemon juice

2 tbsp large egg whites

thin orange peel optional garnish

.25 cup fresh cranberries

1-2 Luxardo cherries optional garnish

2 oz Vanilla- Cinnamon Syrup

.25 cup cinnamon sticks About 5-6 sticks

1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean

1 cup water

½ cup sugar

Instructions

Directions

For the Vanilla-Cinnamon Syrup

To a small saucepan over medium low heat, add water, sugar, vanilla bean and cinnamon sticks. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Simmer for 10 minutes on low. Let steep, off heat, with vanilla bean and cinnamon for 1 hour. Strain and store in the fridge up to 3 weeks.

To Make the Sour

Chill your cocktail glass. Express the orange oils into the glass and onto the rim

Add in order: bourbon, vanilla cinnamon syrup, lemon juice, cranberry juice and egg white to a cocktail shaker with 1 cup of ice. Shake vigorously until the shaker is frosted over. Strain into the chilled cocktail glass. Add a few dash of bitters.

Garnish with orange peel and a few cranberries or luxardo cherries speared on a cocktail pick.

Meggen Wilson is the owner of the specialty food company Pine & Palm Kitchen in Northwest Montana. To see more of her recipes, visit www.pineandpalmkitchen.com.