Cranberries get plenty of play at the Thanksgiving table by way of one ubiquitous can and myriad homemade chutneys. But beyond being a turkey topping, the sweet-tart fruit can be used in far more interesting ways — including a slew of saucy cocktails. (And no, we’re not talking Ocean Spray and vodka.) All around the city, barmen are brightening glasses with natural, red-stained berries and these five are the most dazzling.
By JOANNA PRISCO
Holiday Sangria
$10 glass, $38 pitcher Boqueria, 171 Spring St. and 53 W. 19th St.
Spanish-rosé sangria warms up for winter with the fireside flavors of brandy-soaked cranberries, cinnamon and star anise — perfect après sledding in Central Park or post-holiday shopping in SoHo.
Zandy Mangold
2 of 6
Disco Pisco, $16
David Burke Townhouse, 133 E. 61st St.
Pisco 100, a Peruvian spirit made from Quebranta, Torontel and Italia grape varietals, serves as the anchor for this festive libation, while vanilla flavoring, cream and “disco cranberries” — raw cranberries coated in sugar and edible glitter — swirl around it. Let’s dance.
Jemal Countess
3 of 6
Mirtillo, $14
A Voce, 10 Columbus Circle and 41 Madison Ave.
“We try to get the most of seasonal produce into our cocktails at A Voce,” says beverage director Olivier Flosse, who makes good use of leftover cranberry sauce by combining 3 teaspoons of the condiment with 3 ounces of Crop Organic Vodka, lime juice, allspice dram and Angostura bitters, then shaking and straining into a chilled martini glass. “Cranberry sauce adds an interesting texture and a nice element of sweetness,” he says.
Tamara Beckwith
4 of 6
Maple-Roasted Sweet Potato Infusion, $7
Hopeland Food & Liquor, 320 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn
“Traditionally, our mothers made infusions with seasonal fruits or herbs each holiday,” says chef and co-owner Roy Marino, who is originally from Italy. For this cocktail, Hopeland infuses vodka with oven-roasted sweet potatoes, combines it with a brown-sugar simple syrup, then adds tart dried cranberries to “enhance and counterbalance the sweetness.” Served on the rocks with seltzer, it’s definitely designed for sipping.
Eilon Paz
5 of 6
ML Cranhattan, $14
Marble Lane at Dream Downtown, 355 W. 16th St.
Riffing on the flavor profile of a classic Manhattan, the ML Cranhattan starts by muddling five fresh cranberries with Vya sweet vermouth in a mixing glass, followed by a pour of Dad’s Hat rye and a strong dash of Fee Brothers Cranberry Bitters.
“I was hoping to create something that helped ease the burden of overeating as well as those mundane holiday-party conversations,” says Marble Lane’s beverage director William Ward. Mission accomplished.
Tamara Beckwith
6 of 6
Slurp it down, then eat this up!
Turkey mac ’n’ cheese with cranberry relish, $9
Macbar, 54 Prince St.
Elbow macaroni nuzzles against shredded turkey meat, leftover stuffing, sweet potatoes and cooked peas, in this indulgent Thanksgiving redux mixed with mac ’n’ cheese. Bound by cheddar, mascarpone and fontina, then crowned with a cranberry relish, the vision is complete.
