Cranberry Sage Martini

This Cranberry Sage Martini recipe has all of the flavors of fall. Bright cranberry juice, fresh orange juice, Cointreau, vodka, fresh sage, orange peel, and fresh cranberries. 

Add This Cocktail to Your Holiday Party List

I love this time of year…the warm flavors of fall come alive in everyone’s recipes. So why not step up your cocktail game to include those warm flavors? That’s exactly what I did with this vodka Cranberry Sage Martini.

Ingredients

• Cranberry juice
• Fresh-squeezed orange juice
• Vodka
• Cointreau
• Fresh sage
• Fresh orange peel and fresh cranberries for garnish

What is Cointreau?

Cointreau is a French triple sec liqueur that has an orange flavor. In fact, Cointreau is Triple Sec; it’s a brand of Triple Sec but most people call it by the brand name. So if you have a recipe that calls for Cointreau, you’ll find that Triple Sec is much less expensive so go ahead and buy the Triple Sec. I used Cointreau because I actually had a bottle someone bought for me. And yes, it’s sitting right next to the bottle of Triple Sec that I bought myself.

Let’s Make a Cranberry Sage Martini

1. Prepare the cocktail garnish by trimming a small slice of orange peel.
2. Thread the orange peel, a sage leaf, and cranberries onto a decorative toothpick. Set them aside.
3. Fill a cocktail shaker or small pitcher with ice.
4. Add the vodka, fresh orange juice, cranberry juice, and Cointreau.
5. Shake or stir for 15 seconds.
6. Pour the cocktail through a sieve (to hold back the ice) into a martini glass.
7. Put 1 leaf of fresh sage in the palm of one hand and slap it with the other to release the oils and the flavor. Place the sage leaf in the cocktail.
8. Add the prepared garnish.

Can I Make Cranberry Sage Martini a Mocktail?

Of course! Leave out the vodka and Cointreau and use more fresh orange juice instead.

• 3 parts cranberry juice
• 1 part orange juice
• Fresh sage
• Fresh orange peel and cranberries

Krazy Kitchen Mom Tip: Smacking Fresh Herbs

Let’s talk about smacking fresh herbs. Smacking or slapping fresh herbs like sage, mint, basil, cilantro, and lavender releases the natural oils which release flavor. Muddling fresh herbs breaks and bruises them which provides a stronger aroma. So go ahead and smack your fresh herbs whether you are using them in a cocktail or in a savory dish like homemade spaghetti sauce.

If You Like This Cocktail You’ll Also Like:

1. Cranberry Mimosa
2. Cranberry Margarita
3. Pomegranate Gin Fizz
4. Red Wine Hot Chocolate