Alice in the Kitchen

Cranberry Daiquiri Cocktail

Lauren gave me this recipe, and it is a really nice holiday drink (thanks Lauren!).  It’s a unique change from the standard holiday drink fare.  I made a double batch in the pictures below.  They were really yummy, and the house smelled delicious from the boiling cinnamon sticks!  These would have more of a daiquiri feel if served over crushed ice – and obviously, the glass at the bottom is probably a double serving!!  I also think adding ice would help the cranberries float on top, rather than sinking to the bottom as they did in my version.

Cranberry Daiquiri (as served at the Gramercy Tavern in New York)

Starting Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 stick cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel

½ cup cranberries
½ cup light rum PLUS 1/3 cup light rum (1/2 cup to spike the berries, and 1/3 cup for the drink)
1/3 cup dark rum
1/3 cup cranberry juice
1/3 cup lemon juice

Preparation:
Combine first 4 ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat (sugar, water, cinnamon, orange peel).

Mix in 1/2 cup cranberries.  Cook till cranberries begin to pop.

Cool; discard cinnamon.  Pour mixture into a jar and add 1/2 cup light rum. Chill.

Strain syrup into a pitcher (reserve cranberries). Add 1/3 cup dark rum, 1/3 cup light rum, 1/3 cup cranberry juice, and 1/3 cup lemon juice.

Refrigerate pitcher.  Serve topped with reserved cranberries (would be good over crushed ice – but we didn’t want to water down the punch!)