Brian's Cranberry Smash

  For years and years, I've enjoyed making home made fresh Cranberry Sauce for my family and friends around the holidays. Most times I'll cook up several pounds of fresh cranberries and put them up in jars to gift for everyone's holiday meal. They just taste so much better than store bought cranberries in the can!

 So, one year, I decided to give some to my long time dear friends, Brian and Paula. Side note, I should mention that Brian's family and my family go WAY back, and Paula and I go way back as well, so they're like family to me, and I was happy to share.

 Now, if you know Brian, you know he's ever the party Host with the Most, so of course it came as no surprise that he didn't just serve the cranberries with their holiday dinner. Nope. Instead, he used my cranberry sauce to make a festive cocktail, which was apparently a big smash!! And now they make it every year around the holidays. How fun is that?? Leave it to Brian to come up with a new cocktail! Actually, when he first told me about it, I immediately whipped up an extra big batch of cranberries and canned them in jars so he'd have plenty for his holiday celebrations. He looked at me like I was crazy when I showed up at his house with a bunch of jars. True story! 

 Btw, I'm not exactly sure where he came up with the name.. maybe that's what happens if you have one too many... but I digress...

 Anyway, big thanks to Brian and Paula for including me in their new holiday tradition! I'm truly honored! And Brian, just let me know when you run out of cranberries. I'll have more ready for you!

2 ounces of whiskey

1 ounce of cranberry juice

a spoonful of jellied cranberry sauce 

 

Add everything over ice in a shaker, then pour it over a big square ice cube and drop in a cherry. 

That's all there is to it! So good!

 

 

 

Tips:

Even if you don't make home made fresh cranberry sauce, just use any cranberry sauce you like. It's a great way to use up the leftovers after Thanksgiving! 

If your cranberry sauce is a little too jellied, just stir in a teaspoon or two of hot water to sauce it up a bit!