Bright, tart and incredibly refreshing, the vodka cranberry has been a go-to bar order for decades. The straightforward cocktail was actually invented by the Ocean Spray agricultural cooperative almost 90 years ago, though it originally went by a different name.
Kellyanne Dignan, their spokesperson, told USA Today’s 10Best, “According to our archives, we first marketed cranberry juice, vodka and lime as a cocktail called the Red Devil in the 1940s.” Since then, the cocktail has been known as a Cape Codder, Rangoon Ruby, Bog-Fog and more, but it’s most enduring, and colloquial, name is the vodka cranberry.
Regardless of what you call it, Taste of Home’s Test Kitchen has an authentic recipe for a vodka cranberry that will make you feel like you could open your own bar. Keep reading for the simple how-to, plus some tips from behind the bar.
Give your entire dinner a retro feel with these vintage recipes from the 1940s.
How to Make a Vodka Cranberry
Grab your favorite glass and mix yourself this refreshing cocktail. It’s made with 100% cranberry juice, for a fresh, tart flavor. If you prefer something sweeter, feel free to substitute with cranberry juice cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup ice cubes
- 1-1/2 ounces vodka
- 3 ounces cranberry juice
- Lime wedge
Instructions
Step 1: Mix
To a highball glass, like this set from Red Rocks, add your ice, vodka and cranberry juice and stir with a cocktail spoon.
Step 2: Garnish
Gently attach your lime wedge to the edge of the glass. When you’re ready to enjoy, squeeze the lime into the drink and get sipping!
Want more vodka inspiration? These are the vodka cocktails we have on rotation.
Do you shake a vodka cranberry?
Not traditionally. However, this cocktail can be easily made up. Just add the ice, vodka and cranberry juice to a shaker and shake until the barrel gets nice and cold, about 20 seconds. Strain into a martini or coupe glass and serve with a twist of lime peel.
How much alcohol is in a vodka cranberry?
An ounce and a half, or a standard shot, is used for this recipe. There are no standard proportions for a vodka cranberry, so you can increase or decrease the amount of cranberry juice depending on how forward you’d like the vodka to be.
Serving Ideas for a Vodka Cranberry
Take this simple cocktail to the next level with these slight changes.
- Serve it the Cape Cod way with a few whole or muddled fresh cranberries. These honeyed cranberries would be a gorgeous garnish!
- Feel like you’re in the Big Apple by turning your drink into a Cosmopolitan. Simply add 1-1/2 ounces of Triple Sec, shake in a cocktail shaker, then strain into a martini glass. Serve with a twist of lime peel.
- Go salty! Make a Salty Dog by swapping in grapefruit juice for the cranberry and serving in a salt-rimmed highball glass.
Now that you’ve mastered a vodka cranberry, take on these other easy cocktail recipes you can memorize.
Greyhound
For this classic cocktail, simply pour two ounces of gin into a cocktail glass, and top with grapefruit juice to taste. Serve it with salt on the glass's rim to make it a Salty Dog. Check out more gin cocktails.
Extra Dry Negroni
Here's a classic made with gin, Campari (a dark red bitters liqueur) and red vermouth. For an extra dry negroni and an enchantingly simple two-ingredient cocktail, skip the vermouth and serve over ice with a twist of orange. More classic cocktails you should know.
Rusty Nail
Be like Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack: Make the Rusty Nail your go-to two-ingredient cocktail. It's simply two parts Scotch whiskey to a half part Drambuie liqueur. Served on the rocks or straight up, it's an old-school classic that sings with simplicity. Check out other Rat Pack favorites.
Martini
The martini may be the iconic two-ingredient cocktail, with the basic format being three parts gin or vodka and a half part vermouth. A dry martini uses less vermouth; a wet martini, more. Whether you prefer it shaken or stirred, up or on the rocks, it doesn't get much more simple and elegant than this. Garnish with an olive or a twist of lemon.
Americano
The Americano is another old-school classic that deconstructs the Negroni by keeping the vermouth and Campari while skipping the gin. Simply pour equal parts Campari and sweet vermouth over the rocks. A splash of club soda is optional for a sparkling version.
Irish Coffee
Traditionally, Irish coffee consists of strong coffee, brown sugar, Irish whiskey and cream. But you can make it with a cup of strong coffee and an ounce of Irish cream liqueur. If you want to garnish, add a bit of whipped cream and some chocolate shavings.
Gibson
A Gibson is essentially a martini with a cocktail onion garnish. Traditionally, it starts with a bit less vermouth, but you can work the proportions to your taste.
Black Russian
The classic Black Russian is vodka plus kahlua (coffee-flavored liqueur) on a two-to-one ratio, though you can adjust the ratio to your liking. Serve over ice in an old-fashioned rocks glass. For a White Russian, top with cream.
Mimosa
The classic mimosa calls for orange juice and a splash of champagne. We love it because it's the perfect accompaniment to brunch!
Bellini
A classic Bellini is just like a mimosa, except you use peach nectar in place of the orange juice.
Summer Collins
For a simple Summer Collins, use equal parts gin and lemonade. Serve over ice with an optional fruit garnish. For a Vodka Collins, use vodka in place of gin.
Rose's Gimlet
A gimlet is kind of like a Collins, except it uses lime in place of lemon. Use two parts gin to one part sweetened lime juice (like Rose's). Shake and pour over ice in an old-fashioned glass. Serve with a wedge of lime.
Skinny Margarita
The classic margarita uses tequila, lemon, lime, orange liqueur and a bit of sweetener. But you can make it simple by mixing tequila and a hint of Rose's lime juice. Shake over ice and serve. Salt optional. Take your drink to the next level with these fancy margaritas.
Screwdriver
This classic cocktail is simply vodka plus orange juice served over ice. An orange slice for garnish is completely optional.
Vodka-Cranberry
It doesn't have a clever name, but walk into any bar, and hear lots of folks ordering a good old vodka-cranberry. Garnish it with a lime and call it a Cape Codder.
Simple Paloma
The classic Paloma is made of tequila, grapefruit, lime, and a sweetener. You can make a shortcut version by mixing equal parts tequila and soda—either Fresca or grapefruit-flavored Jarritos works. Serve on the rocks with a wedge of lime for squeezing to taste.
Juicy Julep
A classic mint julep consists of bourbon, simple syrup and muddled mint leaves. But when we asked our Southern friends about the tricks to making a mint julep, we were told it doesn't actually have to be "mint" at all. To make our version of a Juicy Julep, simply leave out the mint, and substitute a flavored simple syrup for a plain simple syrup.Note: Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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Caroline Stanko