Cocktail number two.  Whose big idea was this?  Waissal, verb, “Drink plentiful amounts of alcohol and enjoy oneself with others in a noisy, lively way.”  As I mixed this evening’s cocktail I found myself lacking in lively.  Here’s the thing:  I am a cocktail drinker.  I am not so much a cocktail blogger.  Right?  You’ve seen those blogs.  They’re beautiful.  Case in point:  the blog that I got this recipe from.  Take a look.  Beeee–ooooo—teee-ful.

And, then, there’s me….

That was me.  Making the cocktail I am offering up to you today.  Note the jug o’ lime and jug o’ lemon juice rather than freshly squeezed juice.  I’m a bit of a wreck.  And, throughout the entire process?  I’m thirsty.  I keep telling myself that what I really need to do is mix one cocktail to drink whilst I’m attempting to create aesthetically pleasing, photo-worthy shots.  The results would probably be sooooo much better.  At the very least, pour a glass of wine.

That being said, the concoction was a hit.  One sip and the husband and I smacked our lips and murmered, “Mmmmmm…”

There’s something about a whiskey-based cocktail.  And I am not so much of a whiskey person.  But, add some cranberry or pomegranate or lemon….ding, ding, ding…winner, winner, chicken dinner!  Perhaps that’s why this cocktail, which the aforementioned food blog said was four servings, actually served only two.  Two happy cocktail sippers….

Cranberry Cinnamon Whiskey Sour

Cranberry simple syrup:

2 cups fresh cranberries
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
2 cinnamon sticks
Put cranberries, sugar and water into a medium sized saucepan.  Bring to a boil over medium high heat.  Reduce heat and cook until berries have popped and softened, approximately 12 minutes.  Strain, retaining cranberry simple syrup.  Discard cinnamon sticks and berry skin.

3/4 cup whiskey
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 lime juice
1/2 lemon juice
3/4 cranberry simple syrup

Add the above ingredients (and ice) to a cocktail shaker.  Shake and pour into glasses.  Add ice.  Note:  Unless you have a really big cocktail shaker all of the above likely won’t fit.  I put all of the ingredients together into a large measuring cup then shook individual servings in the cocktail shaker.