Adapted from Country Living
Recipe courtesy of Marcus Samuelsson, owner of Red Rooster in NYC
Looking for an easy drink to complement a fall-festive dessert? Don’t just think apples—cranberries are a tasty alternative that makes a natural transition from warm weather to brisk. Infuse simple syrup with fresh cranberries and spicy masala chai to create this one-of-a-kind, holiday-friendly whiskey cocktail.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 sticks cinnamon
- 2 whole star anise
- 3 green cardamom pods
- 2 tablespoons loose-leaf masala chai
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 6 ounces rye whiskey (such as McKenzie)
- 2 ounces fresh lime juice
- Seltzer
- Lime slices, for garnish
Method
- In a small pot over medium heat, stir sugar into 1 cup water until dissolved to create simple syrup; reserve 1/4 cup.
- Place spices and masala chai on an 8-inch square of cheesecloth and secure with twine to create a sachet; crush spices and tea lightly. Add sachet and cranberries to simple syrup. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and cook for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and discard sachet.
- In a shaker, mix 4 teaspoons cranberry mixture, whiskey, lime juice, simple syrup ,and ice. Pour into 4 glasses with ice. Top each with a splash of seltzer; garnish with lime.
