Eat

Perfect Christmas Cocktail / Nantucket Red

At an event last week, I met reader (and fellow blogger) Rachel, who told me that she’d made my sugared cranberries a few times…and she recommended adding vodka to the recipe to give them a little extra kick. All you do? Just replace about a cup of the steeping liquid with vodka before leaving the cranberries to sit overnight.

Now, it seems to me that these would be a bit…vodka-y…for snacking, but they’d make a gorgeous garnish for a Nantucket Red (my favorite holiday drink).

JORDAN REID’S NANTUCKET RED

I have no idea where I got this recipe from, but I’ve been making one version or another of it during the holidays since before I was legally allowed to purchase the ingredients. It’s gorgeous and festive, and everybody loves it.

To make a Nantucket Red, fill a glass with ice, then pour in 1 1/2 oz good-quality vodka, about 5 oz cranberry juice (more or less depending on how strong you like it), a splash of Chambord, and soda water (or champagne, if you have it handy) to fill. Give a good stir, and garnish with fresh cranberries or the sugared vodka cranberries described above.

Alternative preparation: Combine vodka, cranberry juice, and Chambord in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a martini glass; top with a little soda water or champagne and garnish with fresh or sugared cranberries.

Tip: This recipe is even more delicious with flavored vodka…click here for a great cranberry-and-orange vodka recipe!

Image via.

powered by chloédigital