Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (125 g) Fresh Cranberries
  • 1 cup (200 g) Granulated Sugar
  • 1 cup (240 ml) Water
  • 3 large strips Orange Peel Strips (avoid pith)
  • 4 large Cinnamon Sticks (combined usage)
  • 2 whole pods Star Anise
  • 4 small sprigs Rosemary sprigs
  • 2 oz Bourbon or Rye Whiskey (per Old Fashioned serving)
  • 3 dashes Angostura Bitters (per Old Fashioned serving)
  • 5 oz Dry Gin (per Gin Fizz serving)
  • 75 oz Fresh Lime Juice (per Gin Fizz serving)
  • 1 oz Pomegranate Juice (per Gin Fizz serving)
  • 5 oz Simple Syrup (1:1 sugar/water) or Cranberry Spice Syrup (per Gin Fizz serving)
  • Sparkling Water or Soda Water (chilled, for topping)
  • 1 standard bottle (750 ml) Robust Red Wine (e.g., Merlot)
  • 4 oz Brandy or Cognac
  • 1 medium Orange (sliced)
  • 2 Tbsp Honey or Brown Sugar
  • 8-10 Whole Cloves
  • 2 Bay Leaves

Instructions:

  1. Prepare Cranberry Spice Syrup: Combine cranberries, sugar, water, orange peel, 1 large cinnamon stick, and star anise in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer until the sugar dissolves and cranberries begin to burst (approx. 8 minutes).
  2. Infuse and Chill Syrup: Remove from heat. Allow the mixture to sit for 30 minutes to deepen the spice flavour. Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve, discarding the solids. Refrigerate the syrup until fully chilled (at least 1 hour).
  3. Prepare Mulled Wine Batch: In a large saucepan, combine the red wine, brandy, orange slices, spices (remaining cinnamon sticks, cloves, bay leaves), and honey or sugar.
  4. Heat Mulled Wine: Heat slowly over low-medium heat for 10-15 minutes, allowing the spices to infuse thoroughly. Crucially, do not allow the wine to boil. Maintain a steaming hot temperature just shy of a simmer.
  5. Serve Mulled Wine: Ladle the mulled wine into heat-proof mugs, garnishing each with a fresh orange slice and a cinnamon stick.
  6. Build The Spiced Old Fashioned: In a mixing glass, combine 2 oz of whiskey, 0.5 oz of the Cranberry Spice Syrup, and 3 dashes of Angostura bitters. Fill the glass three-quarters full with large ice cubes.
  7. Stir Old Fashioned: Stir firmly and consistently with a bar spoon for 30–45 seconds until the mixing glass is frosty. Strain the drink into a chilled rocks glass over a single large ice cube. Garnish with an expressed orange peel twist.
  8. Build The Pomegranate Gin Fizz: In a cocktail shaker, combine 1.5 oz gin, 0.75 oz lime juice, 1 oz pomegranate juice, and 0.5 oz simple or cranberry spice syrup. Fill the shaker 2/3 full with ice.
  9. Shake and Serve Gin Fizz: Shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Double-strain the mixture into a chilled highball glass filled with fresh ice. Top up the glass with chilled sparkling water. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and fresh cranberries.