Berry tasty

Toast the holiday with these tart cranberry cocktails

11/25/03

By Ellen Fox

Aside from making its usual appearances in cosmos or as a vodka mixer, cranberry juice is sorely under-exploited in cocktails. There are, however, a few imaginative souls in Bar Land out to press this tart berry for every last drop of potential.

Cranberry Ginger Sake, $8
Though Rodan, Wicker Park's funky new restaurant and lounge, specializes in South American-Southeast Asian fusion, it's not too persnickety to leave North America's native berry out of the mix. The spicy Cranberry Ginger Sake is a blend of ginger-infused cranberry juice and Junmai Daiginjo ginger-flavored sake, shaken with ice and strained into a martini glass.

Cran-Apple, $8
There's nothing teeny about the menu of martinis at Logan Square's clubby new Tini Martini. Among the dozens of options, you'll find this tangy blend of DeKuyper Crantasia schnapps, Pucker Sour Apple schnapps, Stoli Strasberi and cranberry juice, all shaken up and strained into a martini glass and garnished with a cherry.

Peanut Butter and Jelly shot, $5
Despite its grownup ambience, candlelit Wrigleyville lounge Tryst serves up a shot that sends your tastebuds straight back to your grammar school cafeteria. This shot--a blend of Frangelico hazelnut liqueur and cranberry juice, shaken with ice and strained--reportedly tastes so much like its namesake that if you drink enough of them, you might be tempted to fold your arms and put your head down on the table.

Cranberry margarita, $5.50
When owner Sergio Sanchez opened Cabo Bar and Grill this summer, he imported the same cranberry margarita recipe that's endured for years at his other joint, Lincoln Park's Twisted Lizard. It's made with real cranberries (cooked with sugar, then blended), Sauza Gold tequila, Grand Marnier, and lemon, lime and orange juice. Rimmed with salt or sugar, this red-flecked concoction is a sweet-tart twist on the usual frozen or on-the-rocks lime version.

Cheesecake shot, $7.50
Want a quick drink before catching a show at Cadillac Palace Theatre? Head to next-door restaurant Encore and throw back this blend of cranberry juice and your choice of vanilla vodka (Absolut, Stolichnaya, or new Effen Black Cherry) for a pre-show sugar rush.

Ellen Fox is a metromix special contributor