Christmas Old Fashioned
Enjoy a Christmas Old Fashioned this holiday season. These festive cocktails include bourbon, cranberry juice, and simple syrup over large ice cubes. Sip away!
Old Fashioned Drinks
There’s nothing better than a classic Old Fashioned. Except for a Christmas Old Fashioned! These festive drinks are perfect for the holiday season and it’s fun to dress them up with an ice cube filled with cranberries and sprigs of rosemary.
Why This Recipe Works:
- SIMPLE – When we’re in the festive mood, we love a nice simple cocktail recipe like this one. Don’t you love fun Christmas cocktails?
- DELICIOUS – The cranberry flavors are what take the classic cocktail to a new level. We love this one during the Christmas season.
- IMPRESSIVE – While the classic Old Fashioned cocktails include an orange peel and Angostura bitters, these include a splash of cranberry juice and a sparkly ice cube! Perfect for a holiday party!
Ingredients Used for a Cranberry Old Fashioned:
You’ll need only a handful of ingredients for these drinks.
- Bourbon – Use a good quality bourbon or some Irish whiskey, if desired. I recommend asking what your local liquor store recommends.
- Cranberry Juice – I often use Cran-Apple Juice for this holiday drink.
- Plain Simple Syrup – You could also sub maple syrup instead of using the basic simple syrup.
- Ice Cubes – Instead of regular ice cubes, we use large ice cubes with a festive twist including fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary. You could also top this perfect holiday cocktail with sugared cranberries instead.
How to make a Christmas Old Fashioned:
Step 1
Make holiday ice cubes. Make some festive ice cubes in advance. Pour water into some large square ice cubes. Add a few cranberries and a sprig of rosemary to each one. Freeze until solid – about 24 hours.
Step 2
Add ice cubes to glasses. Add one large ice cube to Old Fashioned glasses.
Step 3
Pour ingredients. Add the bourbon, cranberry juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker (without ice). Stir well.
Step 4
Add to glasses. Pour mixture into individual glasses. (The Old Fashioned Glass we use is linked below.) Enjoy.
Recipe FAQs:
The basic ingredients of an Old Fashioned are bourbon or rye whiskey, sugar, water, and bitters. It is typically garnished with an orange slice or twist
Traditionalists might use a sugar cube, but you can also use simple syrup. The choice between white and brown sugar can also come up, depending on personal taste.
The traditional glass for an Old Fashioned is a short tumbler or rocks glass.
Other Holiday Cocktail Recipes:
We love a holiday cocktail. Try one of these next!
Party Snacks to Pair with a Holiday Old Fashioned:
Kitchen Tools Used: (affiliate links)
- Cocktail Shaker
- Large Square Ice Cube Mold
- I purchased the glasses at William Sonoma.
Christmas Old Fashioned
Ingredients
- 6 oz. Bourbon
- 4 oz. cranberry juice
- 1-2 oz. simple syrup
- holiday ice cubes – made of water, cranberries, and rosemary sprigs
Instructions
- Make holiday ice cubes. Make some festive ice cubes in advance. Pour water into some large square ice cubes. Add a few cranberries and a sprig of rosemary to each one. Freeze until solid – about 24 hours.
- Add ice cubes to glasses. Add one large ice cube to Old Fashioned glasses.
- Pour ingredients. Add the bourbon, cranberry juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker (without ice). Stir well.
- Add to glasses. Pour mixture into individual glasses. (The Old Fashioned Glass we use is linked in blog post.) Enjoy.
Awesome recipe and Old Fashioned’s are my new drink!
You know it!
Thanks, Sue! Love the recipe and plan to make this our Christmas Eve tradition. My husband’s favorite.
So great to know, Deb!