How to make a Cranberry mocktail

Cranberry juice and the holidays seem to go together. By the time Thanksgiving rolls around, you start seeing it everywhere, from the sauce on the table to drinks and anything else that needs a suitably festive shade of red.

This cranberry mocktail combines unsweetened cranberry juice with orange juice and rosemary syrup, then tops it with mainelove Blackberry Grapefruit with Bubbles. The cranberry brings the tartness, the orange softens it, and the rosemary adds a little herbal flavor. The blackberry and grapefruit in the mainelove give it more going on than you'd get from plain sparkling water.

It makes one drink and takes about five minutes once the rosemary syrup is ready.

Why cranberries?

Cranberries have been part of American Thanksgiving meals for a long time. By the 1800s, people were already serving cranberry sauce with turkey, and this combination became a tradition. 

The popularity has held steadfast over the years and with good reason. Their tart flavor offers a nice contrast to the rich, sweet dishes often served at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Since cranberries are harvested in the fall, they are fresh just as the holidays begin.

Their bright red color has also become a tradition on holiday tables.

Ingredients you'll need to make a cranberry mocktail

• 4 oz mainelove Blackberry Grapefruit with Bubbles

• 1 oz unsweetened cranberry juice

• 1 oz orange juice

• ½ oz rosemary simple syrup

• Ice

• Rosemary sprig and orange slice, for garnish

How to make a cranberry mocktail

1. Fill a glass with ice.

2. Add the cranberry juice, orange juice and rosemary syrup. Stir.

3. Top with mainelove Blackberry Grapefruit with Bubbles and give it another gentle stir.

4. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and an orange slice.

How to make rosemary simple syrup

You need:

• ½ cup sugar

• ½ cup water

• 1 rosemary sprig

Add everything to a small saucepan and heat until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and let the rosemary steep for about 15 minutes. Strain the syrup and let it cool.

You can make this ahead of time and keep it in the refrigerator, which is probably easier than trying to make syrup while you're also making drinks for everyone.

Important tips to remember

Unsweetened cranberry juice tastes very tart. Orange juice adds some sweetness and keeps the cranberry flavor from overpowering the drink. Rosemary syrup gives it more depth but doesn’t make it too sweet.

Blackberry pairs well with cranberry, and grapefruit adds a bit of bitterness. Grapefruit is a cross between pomelo and sweet orange. The bubbles are important too. They make the drink feel lighter and prevent it from tasting like just cranberry and orange juice poured over ice.

Note: Choose unsweetened cranberry juice, since cranberry juice and cranberry juice cocktails are not the same. If you only have cranberry juice cocktails, use less syrup and adjust the amount to your taste.

Cranberry mocktail FAQs

What flavors go well with cranberry?

Cranberry pairs well with citrus, ginger, and herbs like rosemary, thyme, and mint. Orange and grapefruit are especially good choices because they balance the tart flavor without hiding the cranberry.

What organ is cranberry good for?

Cranberries are often linked to urinary tract health. They contain compounds that might prevent some bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract. However, they do not treat urinary tract infections.

What should you not mix with cranberry?

Cranberry is tart, so mixing it with other sour ingredients can be overpowering. Using too much lemon, lime, or grapefruit can make the drink hard to balance. Sweet ingredients can also cause issues. For example, mixing cranberry juice cocktail with sweet syrup can make the drink sweeter than you want. You don’t have to avoid these ingredients completely. Just use them in moderation and taste as you mix.

How do I turn a cranberry mocktail into a cocktail?

Pour 1½ oz of gin or vodka into the glass before adding the cranberry juice, orange juice, and rosemary syrup. Gin adds a more herbal flavor, while vodka lets the cranberry, blackberry, and grapefruit stand out.