Cranberry Martini

This cranberry martini is as delicious as it is pretty. It's a classic winter cocktail that makes the perfect Christmas cocktail or New Year's Eve drink. Don't let the magenta hue or classic martini glass deceive you: This cocktail is very different from a cosmopolitan. Both drinks start with vodka and cranberry and lime juices, but this cocktail recipe offers a different twist. It uses homemade ginger-infused simple syrup for freshness and a hint of spice, and dry (white) vermouth to balance the sweetness. Toss a few frozen cranberries into the glass before serving—they'll give guests a hint at what they're drinking and also keep the martini recipe icy cold.

How do you make simple syrup?

Simply put, simple syrup is equal parts sugar and water, boiled until the sugar is dissolved. There are a few more nuances to this technique, and this easy guide on how to make simple syrup fleshes out all of the details.

Do I need to make the ginger simple syrup for this recipe?

The pairing of ginger and cranberry juice helps make this cocktail sing, but the ginger simple syrup is not essential to make this martini recipe. This infused syrup can be made up to one week in advance, and stored, covered, in the refrigerator. If you're making the martini at the last minute, substitute regular simple syrup and grate a little fresh ginger into the cocktail shaker, before shaking.

What alcohol mixes with cranberry juice?

Cranberry juice is a versatile mixer for multiple types of liquor. It pairs just as nicely with tequila in a cranberry margarita as it does with champagne in a cranberry mimosa. It's also wonderful with vodka in this balanced martini.

What kind of cranberry juice is good for cocktails? 

It's best to use a cranberry juice made of 100% cranberries, with no sugar added. Cranberry juice cocktail is also readily available in grocery stores, but is not 100% cranberry juice and usually does have added sugar. This recipe was developed with Ocean Spray 100% Cranberry juice, and the amount of additional sweetener and lime is tailored to this kind of juice.

Can you rim the glass for a cranberry martini?

Certainly! A simple sugar rim jazzes this drink right up for the holidays. Try red or white sparkling sugar for even more festive shine. Simply run a lime wedge around the rim of a glass to moisten it, then dip the rim in sugar.