Cranberry Balsamic Cocktail Syrup — Plus the Best Holiday Margarita You'll Ever Make

This is a two-for-one you'll come back to every holiday season. Start with the Cranberry Balsamic Cocktail Syrup — a deeply flavored, vodka-steeped cranberry syrup built on our Cranberry Pear White Balsamic — and then use it to make the Cranberry Balsamic Margarita that's become one of our most-requested holiday recipes. The syrup takes a few days to steep and keeps for three months in the fridge, so make a big batch early and enjoy it all the way through New Year's.

Part One: Cranberry Balsamic Cocktail Syrup
Makes approximately 3 cups — keeps refrigerated for up to 3 months

Rich, tart, and deeply cranberry-forward, this syrup is the workhorse of your holiday bar. A tablespoon transforms a gin and tonic, a splash elevates champagne, and a few ounces make the margarita below.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh cranberries

• 1 cup high-proof vodka (80 proof or higher)

• 1½ cups sugar

• ½ cup water

• 2 tbsp Cranberry Pear White Balsamic

Instructions:

1. Combine cranberries and vodka in a blender or food processor and purée. Transfer to an airtight container and let sit on the counter overnight.

2. Move to the refrigerator and steep for 2 more days, up to 1 week — stirring or shaking daily.

3. Strain through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean mason jar. Discard solids.

4. In a small saucepan, combine sugar, water, and balsamic. Stir over medium heat until sugar is fully dissolved. Remove from heat and cool completely.

5. Stir the cooled sugar syrup into the strained cranberry liquid. Refrigerate for up to 3 months.

Ways to Use It:

• 1 tbsp stirred into gin and tonic or champagne

• Swapped in for simple syrup in any winter cocktail

• Drizzled over vanilla ice cream or a cheese board

• Mixed with sparkling water for a beautiful mocktail

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Part Two: Cranberry Balsamic Margarita
Makes 2 cocktails

As if you needed a reason to have margaritas in December. The Cranberry Pear White Balsamic pulls double duty here — it goes into the syrup and coats the rim — giving this cocktail a depth that plain cranberry juice could never achieve. Tajin on the rim is our strong recommendation.

Ingredients:

• 4 oz blanco tequila

• 3 oz Cranberry Balsamic Cocktail Syrup (recipe above)

• 3 oz fresh lime juice (from about 2 medium limes)

• 1 oz orange liqueur, such as Cointreau

• 1 oz Cranberry Pear White Balsamic (for the rim)

• Tajin seasoning or margarita salt (for the rim)

• Ice

• Lime slices for garnish

Instructions:

1. Pour the Cranberry Pear White Balsamic into a small shallow dish. Pour Tajin or salt into a separate shallow dish. Invert each glass into the balsamic to coat the rim, then into the Tajin or salt. Set aside.

2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add tequila, cranberry syrup, lime juice, and orange liqueur. Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds until well chilled.

3. Fill the prepared glasses with fresh ice. Strain margarita over ice, garnish with a lime slice, and serve immediately.