Vodka Cranberry

What is a Vodka Cranberry Cocktail?

A Vodka Cranberry is one of the most popular, no fuss alcoholic drinks around, dating back to the 1940s. With just two-ingredients, the Vodka Cranberry is always a hit at parties – easy to make, easy to please.

What Does a Vodka Cranberry Taste Like?

The name says it all, really. The Vodka Cranberry boasts a crisp, refreshing taste with the tartness and subtle sweetness of Cranberry Juice perfectly balancing the smooth, clean flavor of Absolut Vodka.

Of course, the notes and accents of the vodka will vary depending on the type of vodka you use, including brand, country of origin, grain vs potato and distillation methods. Likewise, the taste of the cranberry juice will vary brand to brand, season to season and country to country. 

The History of the Vodka Cranberry

Michael Bergström, Drinks Expert from Bartenders’ Choice Awards, explains:

Just like the Moscow Mule, this simple “just add” cocktail came to life and gained popularity through persistent marketing. The combination of Vodka and Cranberry Juice can be traced back to as early as the 1940s when the leading producer of Cranberry Juice marketed their product by mixing it with vodka and controversially named it “The Red Devil”.

However, the classic cocktail recipe didn’t gain traction until two decades later. It wasn’t until the late 1960s, during the rise of Vodka, that the drink started to take off. Recognizing this trend, the juice producer made a second attempt with a new campaign and renamed the drink as the “Cape Codder”. In the 1980s, a version of the Vodka Cranberry cocktail emerged in Sweden, using Absolut Kurant (Black Currant Flavored Vodka). It became so popular that people began to believe the Vodka itself should be red, even though it’s actually transparent. This misconception became so widespread, that customers started interrupting bartenders and specifically asking for the Red Vodka instead!

Tips for Making the Perfect Vodka Cranberry 

• Accentuate the Lime
  Although Rico likes to drop the Lime Wedge directly into the Highball Glass, you could give it a little squeeze first into the glass before dropping it in. This will give your drink another element and a lovely bright citrus-zing that marries perfectly with the Cranberry Juice. 
• Find the right ratio
  Taste is, of course, down to personal preference. As Michael says, for a Vodka Cranberry, “The exact ratio can be adjusted to personal preference, but a 1:2 or 1:3-part ratio is always a good balance between Vodka and Juice.”
• Use store-bought Cranberry Juice Mix
  Although we almost always encourage using fresh ingredients, including fresh fruit to bring your home cocktails up to bar-level standards, Cranberry is probably one of those rare exceptions.

Most of the time you see Cranberry Juice listed as an ingredient in a cocktail recipe, it’s safe to assume it refers to Cranberry Juice Mix, which is pre-mixed and bought from a store, rather than pure Cranberries that you need to juice and sweeten yourself.

Although it’s possible to find unsweetened Cranberry Juice in the supermarket, we highly recommend using sweetened Cranberry Juice. Cranberry is naturally tart, so a touch of sweetness is essential to balance the flavors.

Cranberry Juice Mix is usually a blend of Cranberry Juice with added sugars and other fruit juices, making it less tart and more palatable for a wider range of cocktails. So, for this recipe, we recommend using Cranberry Juice Mix over juicing and sweetening Cranberries yourself.

Better still, as Rico explains, “There’s many bartenders who would say that they started bartending 5 BC or 10 BC. BC means before Cranberry Juice was released because once this was released everyone was putting Cranberry Juice in their drink.” 

Variations of the Vodka Cranberry Cocktail

The Vodka Cranberry is the foundation for any type of Breeze – a cocktail family that gained popularity during the 70s with the most known one calling for Vodka, Cranberry and Grapefruit juice.

As Michael offers, you can turn a Vodka Cranberry into a completely different drink by adding or swapping a few simple ingredients. “Top up your Vodka Cranberry with a splash of Soda Water and you’ll have a Rose Kennedy cocktail. Swap Grapefruit Juice for Pineapple Juice and you’ll have yourself a Bay Breeze. Use Orange Juice instead of Grapefruit to make it a Madras”. Here’s a few more of our personal favorites:

• Sea Breeze
  The Sea Breeze is a classic and part of the Cape Cod family of drinks. Using sweetened Cranberry Juice, zesty, freshly pressed Grapefruit Juice, and Absolut Vodka, it can be served as a classic cocktail or as a punch, making it ideal for bigger gatherings and parties. Discover our Sea Breeze cocktail recipe.
• Gentle Sea Breeze
  This Sea Breeze mocktail combines equal parts of Cranberry Juice and Grapefruit Juice over ice. It delivers a sweet and tangy flavor profile, with the tartness of the Cranberry Juice complemented by the citrusy notes of the Grapefruit Juice. Here’s how to make a Gentle Sea Breeze.
• The Greyhound
  If you love the Sea Breeze but want even more Grapefruit, this is your drink. Grab yourself bottle of Absolut Grapefruit Vodka and discover how to make a Greyhound cocktail.
• Easy Breeze
  Equal parts Vodka and Cranberry Juice, garnished with an Orange Wedge. A summer essential. See how to make an Easy Breeze.
• Cranberry Vodka Spritzer
  Vodka , Sparkling Water (Seltzer) and a splash of Sweet Cranberry Juice.

Serving and Garnish Ideas for a Vodka Cranberry

• Rocks Glass, Highball Glass…or a Wine Glass
  “You can basically use any type of glass for this drink, but the most common would be to pour it over Ice Cubes in a Highball Glass or a shorter Rocks-style glass. A Wine Glass that is less thick can also work nicely and be enjoyable to drink from on a hot summer day with lots of ice,” says Bergström.
  
  
• Lime is the citrus of choice
  A Lime Wedge is the most common garnish for a Vodka Cranberry. Even if any citrus would work, as Michael says, “The bright green color of the Lime really gives it a beautiful contrast to the deep red of the drink.” So, we suggest sticking with the classic.