Sometimes magic happens when you are least expecting it. That was the case with my Rosemary Cranberry Martini. I was working my way through a rather long recipe for a Buche Du Noel (A chocolate Yule Log) for the holidays, garnished with Candied Cranberries and Rosemary. The recipe yielded a most fragrant and flavorful simple syrup, that ironically, was a by-product of the recipe. So instead of tossing it, I did what any warm-blooded kitchen witch would do and mixed it with some vodka and a few other things. And Voila! Magic in a glass.

Rosemary Cranberry Martini

Yields 4 Cocktails

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[ I N G R E D I E N T S ]

Sugared Cranberries & Rosemary for Simple Syrup (recipe below)

Colored Sugar (recipe below)

1 cup vodka

½ cup roses lime juice

½ cup cranberry juice

½ cup rosemary/cranberry simple sugar

2 cups of ice

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[ P R E P A R A T I O N ]

A day in advance, prepare the simple sugar and garnishes (recipe below).

To assemble the martini:

1. – Place the vodka, lime juice, and ice into a large martini shaker or pitcher.
2. – Shake or stir and adjust the flavoring to your liking! Put the martini mixture off to the side.
3. – For the colored sugar rim (recipe below) tip the edge of a martini glass into the simple syrup and then dip it into colored sugar.
4. – Pour the martini mixture into the glass.
5. – Add a splash of cranberry juice.
6. – Garnish with the sprigs of rosemary and cranberries.

Simple Sugar and Garnish for the Rosemary Cranberry Martini

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[ I N G R E D I E N T S ]

1 cup fresh cranberries

4–5 rosemary sprigs 

2 cups granulated sugar, divided

1 cup water

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[ P R E P A R A T I O N ]

To assemble the simple sugar and garnish:

1. – Place the cranberries and rosemary in a bowl. 

2. – In a small saucepan, put the water and one of the cups of sugar and bring it to a boil, stirring occasionally,  to melt all the sugar.

3. – Take it off the stove and let it cool for about 20 minutes.

4. – When it reaches room temperature, pour the sugar syrup over the cranberries and sprigs of rosemary and let it sit overnight.

5. – The following day, drain the sugar mixture from the cranberries and rosemary and reserve for the Martini. This is your flavored simple syrup.

6. – Pour the remaining cup of sugar over the cranberries and rosemary and lay them on a parchment-covered baking sheet to air dry (For a few hours at least).

Colored Sugar

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[ I N G R E D I E N T S ]

1 cup sugar

6 drops of red food coloring

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[ P R E P A R A T I O N ]

To assemble the colored sugar:

1. -Place a cup of sugar and 6 drops of red food coloring in a food processor. 
2. – Blend until the color is evenly distributed. 
3. – Pour into a plate wide enough for the rim of the glass.