Known for its bright color and delicious sweet but tart flavor, the vodka cranberry cocktail is a fun and effortless drink for any occasion. Everything you need is right in the name: vodka and cranberry juice, plus a touch of lime for an extra bit of zing. As far as easy mixed drinks go, our recipe for vodka cranberry tops the list.
We’ve seen this simple cocktail have many incarnations over the years. A vodka cranberry recipe appeared in an Ocean Spray newsletter in 1945, named the Red Devil. Trader Vic’s of Oakland called it the Rangoon Ruby in 1956. The vodka cran became popular in the 1980s as the Cape Codder, a signature sip of the New England preppie set. Cape Cod has been the home to a thriving cranberry farming community for over 200 years, so it makes sense that the name stuck and folks on the East Coast still order Cape Codders to drink today.
Vodka cranberry always tastes nostalgic, reminding me of late nights at a club. This was my drink of choice when I’d go to the bar—easy for the bartender to make, even easier for me to drink before getting back out on the dance floor. It’s just as tasty now, but I’m more likely to serve it at an autumn afternoon get-together when cranberries are in season (so I can go to bed early). It’s the perfect sipper with party appetizers and snacks.
Vodka Cranberry Ingredients
- Vodka: Vodka is a spirit made to taste so clean and crisp that it almost has no taste at all, which helps other ingredients shine. Cranberries are the star of the show in this case, so a traditional vodka is the best choice, but feel free to experiment. Some great flavored vodkas are available that can take this drink to another level. Citrus vodkas are a good place to start, and you can even make lemon vodka yourself at home.
- Cranberry Juice: Don’t be fooled! Cranberry juice and cranberry juice cocktail are two different things. Cranberry juice cocktail has quite a bit of added sugar, which reduces the fruit’s tartness and makes for a sweeter version of this drink. (Psst: Did you know that cranberries are harvested by flooding the bogs where they are farmed? Cranberries have a tiny bit of air inside, and they float to the surface as the machinery releases them from the vine.)
- Lime garnish: A refreshing squeeze of lime across the top of this cocktail gives it a touch of acidity and brightness. Cutting lime wedges is easiest, but you can get a little artful with a lime twist.
Directions
Step 1: Prepare your glassware
Place ice in a highball glass.
Step 2: Mix your ingredients
Pour the vodka and cranberry juice into the glass. Stirring is optional, but it is recommended to combine the two liquids.
Step 3: Add the finishing touch
Garnish as desired. Don’t forget that little squeeze of lime!
Editor’s Tip: Get creative and explore easy cocktail garnish ideas for that extra fragrance and style.
Vodka Cranberry Variations
- Add more lime: If you like the squeeze of lime on top, add 1/2 ounce of fresh lime juice for a citrusy splash. Try lime cordial or Rose’s lime juice if you like it a little sweeter.
- Try muddled fruit: Have some leftover fruit after making recipes with cranberries? Add a handful of cranberries to the glass before the ice. Take a muddler and smash the fruit, releasing all the juice. Add ice, vodka, and juice and then garnish with a whole cranberry. No muddler? Use the back of a spoon! Try different berries and find out which combination you like best. My fave? Blackberries.
- Add sparkling water: Top with some bubbly water for an effervescent effect.
- Make a Madras: This is a vodka cranberry with added orange juice. These juices pair so well that you may want to try them without the vodka.
- Sip on a Sea Breeze: Using grapefruit juice is another way to add a citrus element to your vodka cranberry cocktail. Just replace some of the cranberry juice with grapefruit.
- Have a Sex on the Beach: More than just a bawdy name, the components of the Cape Codder and the Fuzzy Navel (peach schnapps and orange juice) come together in this super sweet vacation cocktail.
How to Make Vodka Cranberry for a Group
The simplicity of this recipe makes it quick and easy to make a larger batch. Be sure to stick to the 2-to-1 ratio of juice to vodka, and make as much as you want. Keep it cold until you are ready, then serve it in a fun pitcher or punch bowl. A garnish station with several different options like limes, blood oranges, grapefruit, and whole cranberries is also festive.
Vodka Cranberry Tips
What’s the best vodka for vodka cranberry?
Traditionally, a straightforward option like Tito’s is the best choice of vodka, but I like to mix it up with Deep Eddy’s Lime Vodka or even White Peach and Rosemary from the Grey Goose Essences line of vodkas.
What kind of glass should you use to serve vodka cranberry?
There are many types of cocktail glasses you could use, but a 10-ounce highball glass is what you will see a vodka cranberry served in most often. Highball glasses were designed with two-ingredient cocktails in mind, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get creative. As long as you stick to the ratio in the recipe, any vessel will do.
What else can you serve with vodka cranberry drinks?
Vodka cranberry drinks have gained traction as a breakfast beverage and pair well with all your morning favorites. Hosting a brunch and serving pastries, fruit and egg casserole recipes? Vodka cranberry cocktails are the perfect accompaniment. Alternatively, my favorite foods to pair with a vodka cranberry drink are all the dishes of Thanksgiving. In the same way cranberry sauce completes a turkey dinner, a vodka cranberry is always a welcome bright and fruity partner to any holiday meal, adding a sweet and tart contrast to all those savory flavors. Pair it with Thanksgiving charcuterie boards and more!
