Cranberry Boulevardier Cocktail

A Cranberry Boulevardier Cocktail is a festive holiday twist on the classic cocktail. With an easy-to-make homemade cranberry shrub, this boulevardier is tangy, bright and flavorful. It’s the ideal cocktail to serve up before any holiday meal you have planned this season!

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Breckenridge Distillery! As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Cake ‘n Knife!

Christmas is commmmming…..

Are you just so over-the-moon, leaping-out-of-your-socks, jumping-with-joy excited?!

I feel like a giddy little child right now. The anticipation of celebrating with family and friends, the magic in the air every time I step outside, and everyone suddenly being in a happy mood sure does bring me right back to the childhood joy I had when I was young. 

Of course, now that I am an adult, I get to enjoy the benefits of adult drinks to ring in the merriest season of all.

WOOT.

I have recently become a big fan of the classic boulevardier cocktail. It’s sultry with a little nip of whiskey bite at the end of each sip. What’s not to love about that?

Usually it’s served up with a rye whiskey, but I’ve been playing with my favorite Breckenridge Distillery bourbon and it’s exactly what this classic cocktail needs. The bourbon is smooth with just a little bit of a bite, making it just the right accompaniment for the boulevardier cocktail.

Breckenridge Distillery bourbon is simply my favorite (and I swear, it’s not only because it’s local!). The flavor they impart into their bourbon (and other spirits, now that I mention it) is unreal. It’s so much more rich and bold than other bourbons that I’ve tried, making it just the right fit for this bold holiday version of this cocktail.

With the addition of a homemade cranberry shrub, the boulevardier becomes all festive and bright, just in time for Christmas! The tang of the shrub is a wonderful addition to balance out the smoothness of the cocktail and the richness of the bourbon.

I love serving these up right before a big meal to wet the appetite!

It pairs especially well with a variety of meats and cheeses, cleansing your palate between each pairing you try 🙂

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Don’t forget to check out the other holiday recipes I’ve shared for the 12 Days of Jolly Giveaways (Day 10’s cookware giveaway is still open!)!

One – Red Wine Slow Cooker Short Rib Ragu

Two – Gingerbread Challah Bread

Three – Mini Beef Wellingtons

Four – Bourbon Gingerbread Punch

Five – Twice-Baked Chicken Shawarma Stuffed Potatoes

Six – Head Country BBQ Prize Pack

Seven – White Chocolate Dipped Dark Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

Eight – Red Christmas Single Serve Sangria

Nine – How to Make Craft Beer Cocktails, Part One

Ten – Salmon Chowder

Eleven – Cranberry Boulevardier

This Recipe’s Must Haves

To get the look that you see in this post, pick up a pair of these coupe glasses!

I love to make this cocktail in a cocktail mixing glass with a cocktail spoon because it’s elegant and makes the best drinks. 

Finally, you’ll need a saucepan to make the cranberry spice shrub! 

Cranberry Boulevardier

A holiday take on the classic Boulevardier, made with bourbon and a homemade easy peasy cranberry shrub!

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 15 minutes mins

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ingredients

Cranberry Shrub

• 1 cup water
• 2 1/4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 8 cloves
• 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar

Cranberry Boulevardier

• 2 oz. Breckenridge Distillery Bourbon Whiskey
• 3/4 oz homemade cranberry shrub
• 1/2 oz. Campari
• 1/2 oz. sweet vermouth
• 1 orange or lemon peel

instructions

• To make the cranberry shrub, bring water, cranberries, sugar, cloves and cardamom to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer gently until the cranberries are soft, approximately 8 minutes.
• Remove from heat and strain through a fine mesh strainer into a mason jar. Using the back of a spoon to press down the cranberries and extract as much just as possible, without pushing any of the solids through.
• Stir in the vinegar and cover. Refrigerate until ready to use. This mixture can be kept for several months in the refrigerator.
• To make the cocktail, add whiskey, cranberry shrub, Campari, and sweet vermouth into a mixing glass or empty cocktail shaker. Stir for 30 seconds.
• Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with orange or lemon twist.

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