November 6, 2021

Cranberry Negroni: A Gin and Cranberry Juice Cocktail

Name: Cranberry Negroni: A Gin and Cranberry Juice Cocktail
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: lemon wedge; superfine or granulated sugar; 1.5 ounces Tanqueray or other dry gin; 1.0 ounces sweet vermouth; 1.0 ounces 100% cranberry juice; 0.5 ounces Campari; fresh cranberries for garnish

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This cranberry Negroni is a delicious variation on a classic. And the beautiful color of this gin and cranberry juice cocktail makes it perfect for the holidays.

Pure cranberry juice increases the bitterness of what is already a bitter cocktail, so this recipe has less Campari than the classic 1:1:1 ratio found in a Negroni and adds a sugared rim.

How to make a sugar rimmed glass

Adding a sugar rim to your cocktail is easy. Lightly rub a lemon wedge around the outside of your glass, and then place the glass down onto a plate filled with superfine sugar.

You can rim a glass with other things. Salt is an obvious alternative. But you can also use cocoa, cinnamon sugar, or spices. My cherry Bakewell cocktail has a rim of ground nuts and sugar.

a lowball glass upside down on a plate filled with sugar

Variation: Cranberry Negroni with cranberry-infused gin

If you have fresh cranberries, you can make this cranberry Negroni by infusing your gin instead of using juice.

Slice your cranberries in half, put them into a clean jar, add gin just to cover, and leave in a cool place or the refrigerator for a few days. To make the cranberry Negroni, strain out the cranberries and use this gin with 1 ounce sweet vermouth and 1/2 to 1 ounce of Campari. Include or omit the sugared rim, depending on your cocktail preferences.

I was this many years old when I found out that the inside of cranberries look like this:

FAQs about this gin and cranberry cocktail

Shaken or stirred?

A classic Negroni should be stirred with ice and poured into the glass or even built in the glass. This cranberry Negroni is shaken because of the cranberry juice.

Is there a wrong way to shake a cocktail?

No, go ahead and shake and dance to whatever song you like. But there a few things you shouldn’t do.

Can I serve this straight up?

Yes, a Negroni can be served up or on the rocks, depending on your preference.

Cranberry juice vs cranberry cocktail?

This cocktail calls for 100% cranberry juice. You could substitute cranberry cocktail for the 100% cranberry juice, but know that the cranberry cocktail has sugar added and is therefore much sweeter. At minimum, I would skip the sugared rim if you are substituting cranberry juice cocktail.

Why is this two servings?

Our good friends at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism inform us that a standard drink for distilled spirits is 1.5 ounces.

a cranberry negroni in a lowball glass garnished with and surrounded by fresh cranberries

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Cranberry Negroni: A Gin and Cranberry Juice Cocktail

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Servings 2

Author uglyducklingbakery

Equipment

Cocktail shaker

Ingredients

lemon wedge
superfine or granulated sugar
1.5 ounces Tanqueray or other dry gin
1.0 ounces sweet vermouth
1.0 ounces 100% cranberry juice
0.5 ounces Campari
fresh cranberries for garnish

Instructions

Make a sugared rim glass by rubbing the lemon wedge lightly around the outside of a lowball glass. Then turn the glass upside down into a plate of sugar. Tap the glass lightly while it is upside down to knock any loose sugar back onto the plate.
lemon wedge, superfine or granulated sugar
Add ice to the glass.
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the gin, sweet vermouth, cranberry juice, and Campari. Shake for about 10 seconds and then strain into the glass.
1.5 ounces Tanqueray or other dry gin, 1.0 ounces sweet vermouth, 1.0 ounces 100% cranberry juice, 0.5 ounces Campari
Garnish with the cranberries.
fresh cranberries for garnish