Cranberry Cordial
A vibrant, homemade liqueur that captures the tart essence of fresh cranberries balanced with sweet sugar and smooth light rum. This infusion requires patience, aging for six weeks to develop a deep, ruby-red color and rich flavor profile, making it perfect for holiday gifting, sipping over ice, or topping with soda.
What it tastes like
This cordial smells of fresh tart berries with a subtle background of white rum. The palate is sharply acidic and very sweet, resulting in a heavy, coating mouthfeel. It leaves a dry, tannic sensation on the tongue from the cranberry skins.
Flavour profile
Ingredients
- Chopped Cranberries0.5 ml
- Granulated Sugar0.75 l
- Light Rum0.5 l
Preparation
- 1
Place the chopped cranberries into a clean 2-liter jar equipped with a tight-fitting lid.
- 2
Pour the granulated sugar and light rum over the cranberries.
- 3
Secure the lid tightly and place the jar in a cool, dark location.
- 4
Invert and shake the jar vigorously once every day for a duration of six weeks to ensure the sugar dissolves and the flavors infuse.
- 5
After the aging period, strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove the fruit solids.
- 6
Pour the filtered cordial into clean bottles and seal with corks.
Substitutions
- Light RumVodka — Vodka provides a more neutral base that highlights the fruit without adding the fermented cane notes of rum.
- Granulated SugarDemerara Sugar — Demerara adds a dark, toffee-like depth that pairs well with the tartness of the berries.
- Light RumGin — Using gin introduces herbal and pine notes that complement the woody astringency of the cranberries.
Variations
Winter Spice Cordial
Add one split vanilla bean and a single star anise to the infusion jar for a warmer, spicy profile.
Cranberry Spritz
Combine 45ml of the finished cordial with 90ml of club soda in a glass with ice for a carbonated version.