Cranberry Ginger Fizz

This year, I hosted my family for Christmas for the first time.  It was a great Christmas full of my family's traditions...there was fondue, the Nutcracker Ballet (my gift to my Mom), stockings (my Dad got actual coal in his stocking this year!), and of course, turkey.  It was a jam packed few days!  My family left a few days ago, and I have to admit that I have spent a couple of days holed up in my basement watching bad TV.  It is nice to have a few days off!

Now that Christmas is over, the immediate shift in focus is on New Years.  Traditionally my New Years eve is spent catching up with old friends in my hometown.  This year I am sticking around in Calgary, and my boyfriend is on call (he was on call Christmas and actually had to go to a job immediately after dinner!).  It is highly likely that my New Years will be very quiet, which actually sounds pretty much perfect to me.

I am using the approaching New Years as an excuse to play bartender.  I have been playing around with some cocktails that will be perfect for a New Years party.  If you are spending a quiet night in like myself, these cocktails would be equally fun.  Just because you're not wearing a sparkly dress does not mean you don't deserve a sparkly cocktail, right?

The first cocktail I've tried out is a Cranberry Ginger Fizz.  Not a gin fizz, although you could add gin rather than vodka if you'd like.  This cocktail combines two interesting flavors:  cranberries and ginger.  At first thought, you may not think that cranberries and ginger would go together.  But after you taste this cocktail, any questions you might have will be thrown out the window.

This cocktail is a delicate, wintery delight.  The cranberry flavor was mild, probably because I actually used cran-raspberry cocktail.  If you use actual cranberry cocktail, the cranberry flavors will be more intense.  The ginger simple syrup adds an unmistakable gingery, wintery flavor to the drink. The cocktail is topped with a splash of club soda, diluting the sweetness and giving it a fresh finish.

To make this cocktail, you must first make a ginger simple syrup.  It is fast and simple.  Sorry for stating the obvious.  I have used this recipe before, for my Pear and Ginger Margaritas, but wanted to up the gingeriness by adding some ground ginger this time.  

Ginger Simple Syrup

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 8 inches ginger, peeled and sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
• 1 tsp ground ginger

Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart

In a small pot, combine all ingredients and bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is completely dissolved.  Simmer gently for 10 minutes.  Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.

Cranberry Ginger Fizz

• 1 shot (2 oz) vodka
• 1 shot cranberry juice (I used cran-raspberry but for a more intense cranberry flavor use pure cranberry cocktail)
• 1/2 shot (1 oz) lime juice
• 1/2 shot (1 oz) ginger simple syrup (recipe follows)
• club soda
• cranberries, lime for garnish

Recipe adapted from Food Network.

In a shaker filled with ice, combine the vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice and ginger simple syrup.  Shake until well combined and cooled.  Pour into a glass.

This cocktail can be served as a martini, or alternately with a splash of club soda. 

UPDATE:  This cocktail is also great, possibly even better, when you sub pomegranate juice for the cranberry juice!!