Cranberry Liqueur
Cranberry liqueur is one of those liqueurs that can be great with a bit of tartness or way too sweet. I've never been happy with the commercial brands but since the Cosmopolitan has been one of our favorite holiday drinks, I've wanted to find a cranberry liqueur that fits the bill. Happily we found THE recipe when attending a family reunion in Gardiner, Montana.
This cranberry liqueur recipe comes from a second cousin's wife, Lu Harlow, who happens to be the Director of Food and Beverage at Yellowstone National Park. Not only is she a wonderful host, and the source of this recipe, she was highlighted in Forbes Magazine in 2019.
The resulting liqueur is wonderful, a bit tart, a bit sweet and wonderfully smooth. Enjoy this wonderful after-dinner drink!
Cranberry Liqueur
- 3 cups fresh cranberries
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1½ cups 100 proof vodka
- 2 tsp grapefruit zest
Coarsely chop cranberries and place in a two quart container.
Add sugar, stir, and let stand one hour.
Add, water, vodka, and zest to cranberry mixture. Cover tightly and let stand in dark place for one month. During this time, shake a couple of times a week to avoid clumping.
After the first month, use a colander or coarse sieve to strain the solids which you discard.
Transfer to a clean container and let stand for one week.
Filter into the final containers. Place in a dark place and age for one month.
Notes: do not use 80 proof vodka, you need the full 100 proof for the infusion to work well. I also experimented with different citrus zests. Grapefruit worked the best in my view.