Cranberry Dark and Stormy

Cranberry-Dark-and-Stormy-Julia-Mueller-of-The-Roasted-Root

Ingredients

Cranberry Simple Syrup:
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 3 tablespoons honey, agave, or pure maple syrup
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Dark and Stormy (per cocktail):
• Ginger Beer
• 1.5 ounces dark rum (I like spiced)
• 2 to 3 tablespoons cranberry simple syrup

Directions

Prepare the Cranberry Simple Syrup: Add all of the ingredients for the cranberry syrup to a saucepan and bring to a full boil. Reduce the heat to a gentle boil, simmer, and cook until cranberries have softened about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool.

Once cool enough to handle, strain the cranberry mixture through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing the pulp into the strainer to maximize the amount of syrup you get out. Discard the pulp and refrigerate the syrup until ready to use.

Prepare the Dark and Stormys: Fill glasses with ice and fill most of the way up with ginger beer. Carefully pour in the cranberry syrup, followed by the dark rum. Serve with fresh cranberries and enjoy.

Note: Since Dark and Stormies are served with a rum floater, the first few drinks are super strong. To lessen the POW, stir the cocktail prior to sipping.

Credit: The Cranberry Marketing Committee and Julia Mueller of The Roasted Root.