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This cocktail is a tradition in my family. It’s a note of sweet nostalgia because we only make and serve it during the holidays between Thanksgiving Day and New Year’s Day.
Why We Love This Cocktail
- This cocktail is a holiday tradition. I remember my Mom drinking them during the holidays. When I became an adult I willingly joined her. We still stay true to the tradition and only make these between Thanksgiving Day to New Year’s Day.
- I love the slight tang from the lime juice, coupled with the dryness of the cranberry juice with the fruity sweetness of Southern Comfort.
- A bit of cocktail history – this cocktail was created in 1939 and, of course, is named after the heroine from Gone With The Wind. I think it’s time to bring this cocktail back front and center in every bar.
- Just look at that color – the crimson-red color just yells HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
Three Easy Ingredients
Let’s Make A Scarlet O’Hara Cocktail
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add 2 ounces of Southern Comfort liqueur.
- Add 4-5 ounces of cranberry juice.
- Slice a lime into wedges and add the juice from 1 wedge.
- Cover the shaker and shake for 1-2 minutes.
- Using the shaker strainer, pour the cocktail into a large martini glass.
- Garnish with a slice of lime and fresh cranberries on a cocktail skewer.
Make It A MockTail
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add 2 ounces of Peach or Apricot nectar.
- Add 4-5 ounces of cranberry juice.
- Slice a lime into wedges and add the juice from 1 wedge.
- Cover the shaker and shake for 1-2 minutes.
- Using the shaker strainer, pour the cocktail into a large martini glass.
- Garnish with a slice of lime and fresh cranberries on a cocktail skewer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Southern Comfort is a whiskey-flavored liqueur. A liqueur is a liquor that has been sweetened with fruits, juices, and other flavors for a naturally sweet taste.
Mostly it tastes like cranberry juice with a slight tanginess. It also has a smooth sweet flavor from the Southern Comfort. Southern Comfort is made from apricots so there is also a natural fruity taste to the drink.
Cranberry cocktail juice has added sweeteners from other juices to give it a natural sweetness. I find natural cranberry juice to be very dry so I prefer the cocktail juice because it seems a bit more smooth.
Because Southern Comfort is made from whiskey and apricots, you could try using an apricot or peach-flavored brandy.
More KKM Holiday Cocktails
Scarlet O’Hara Cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 oz. Southern Comfort (for mocktail substitute Peach or Apricot Nectar)
- 4 oz. Cranberry juice
- Juice from 1/8 lime
- Slice of lime and cranberries for garnish
Instructions
Cocktail Version
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add 2 ounces of Southern Comfort liqueur.
- Add 4-5 ounces of cranberry juice.
- Slice a lime into wedges and add the juice from 1 wedge.
- Cover the shaker and shake for 1-2 minutes.
- Using the shaker strainer, pour the cocktail into a large martini glass.
- Garnish with a slice of lime and fresh cranberries on a cocktail skewer.
Mocktail Version
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add 2 ounces of Peach or Apricot nectar.
- Add 4-5 ounces of cranberry juice.
- Slice a lime into wedges and add the juice from 1 wedge.
- Cover the shaker and shake for 1-2 minutes.
- Using the shaker strainer, pour the cocktail into a large martini glass.
- Garnish with a slice of lime and fresh cranberries on a cocktail skewer.
Notes
If you make this recipe, show me a pic! You can upload your photo to your Instagram account and tag me @krazykitchenmom
