Cran Sake Cocktail Recipes

Steps:

• Cran-Rosemary Sparkler
• For each drink, muddle 4 cranberries, 1 sprig rosemary and 3/4 ounce maple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Add 2 ounces gin and 3/4 ounce each cranberry juice and sweet vermouth. Add ice and shake vigorously, then strain into a chilled coupe glass. Top with champagne; garnish with rosemary.
• Cranberry Kir Royale
• For each drink, combine 1 ounce cranberry juice and 1/2 ounce creme de cassis in a flute. Add a cranberry and top with champagne.
• NYC Cosmopolitan
• For each drink, combine 1 1/4 ounces each vodka and simple syrup, 3/4 ounce fresh lime juice and 1/4 ounce each citrus vodka, orange liqueur and cranberry juice in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously, then strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with an orange twist.

Steps:

• Cranberry-Thyme Syrup:
• Cook thyme, cranberries, sugar, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan over low, swirling pan occasionally, just until sugar is dissolved and cranberries have released their color, 12-15 minutes (do not reduce liquid). Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a heatproof bowl or measuring cup and let cool (you should have 4 oz.).
• Assembly:
• For each cocktail, combine 1 oz. cranberry-thyme syrup, 1/2 oz. lemon juice, and 1/4 oz. Campari in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Cover and shake vigorously until the outside of shaker is very cold, about 20 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and top with 3 oz. Champagne; garnish with 3 cranberries on a skewer.
• Do Ahead
• Syrup can be made 2 weeks ahead. Cover and chill.

Steps:

• Fill a martini shaker with ice. Add sake, cranberry juice and juice of 1 lime wedge.
• Shake-shake-shake the cocktail and strain into a Martini glass or some other attractive glass with a stem. This cocktail could also be served in a highball glass, but stemware looks so much more elegant.
• If you want it sweet, top the glass off with Sprite (or 7up if you prefer) to give the drink a little sparkle. Garnish with other lime wedge.

Steps:

• Combine the cranberries, rosemary and sugar in a cocktail shaker. Muddle until the cranberries and rosemary are broken down and juicy.
• Add the nonalcoholic spirits to the shaker along with a handful of ice. Shake well until cold, then double-strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Top with the tonic. Garnish with cranberries and rosemary.

Steps:

• Fill a shaker three-fourths full with ice cubes., Add vodka, schnapps, lemonade concentrate and juice to shaker; cover and shake until condensation forms on outside of shaker, 10-15 seconds. Strain into 4 cocktail glasses. Place a skewer with 4 cherries in each glass.

Steps:

• Mix sugar and water and bring to a slight boil for a few minutes.
• Remove from heat and allow to cool.
• Add Sake to the mixture a small bit at a time until the desired sweetness is achieved.
• True Hon-Mirin is very expensive and difficult to obtain outside of Japan.
• While this shortcut does not have the full flavor and complexity of a true Hon-Mirin, it is an adequate substitute when used as a sweetener in certian Japanese sauces such as teriyaki.