The cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccus, various species) is the fruit of a small vining shrub that is native to a band of the northern hemisphere that stretches around the world. The cranberry grows in acidic soil that is flooded at harvest time which takes advantage of the fact that ripe cranberries float.
Cranberries were introduced to American settlers by indigenous tribes, who used them for everything from medicine to dye and as a food source. By the early 19th century, cranberries were being farmed and shipped to Europe. Most of the cranberies harvested in the United States come from only a few states, with Wisconsin, Washington, Oregon, Massachusetts, and New Jersey producing major commercial crops.
Today, most cranberries in the United States during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Cranberries are highly acidic, and are almost never eaten by themselves, but turned into chutneys, relishes, juices (which are either sweeteted or blended with another sweet juice like apple juice), baked into muffins, or dried and sweetened like raisins.
The tartness of the cranberry means it works well to balance cocktails. They are a popular flavoring for [ingredient=cranberry-liqueur liqueurs], bitters, [ingredient=cranberry-vodka vodkas], and [ingredient=cranberry-shrub shrubs].
Some popular cocktails containing Cranberry
- Holiday In Osaka — Shochu, Gold rum, Cherry Liqueur, Club soda, Cranberry shrub, Orange, Cranberry
- Boston Bog — Rum, Apricot liqueur, Ginger syrup, Lime juice, Cranberry juice, Orange peel, Cranberry
- New Amsterdam Winter Fix — Gin, Triple sec, Lemon juice, Ginger, Cranberry
- Gobbler's Knob — Aquavit, Amontillado Sherry, Herbal liqueur, Falernum, Celery bitters, Sage syrup, Orange, Cranberry
- Craft Squirrel Sex Manhattan — Fernet Branca, Limoncello, Strawberry eau de vie, Eau de vie of Douglas Fir, Maraschino Liqueur, Tartaric acid powder, Raspberry Shrub, Cranberry, Demerara syrup, Grenadine
- Cranberry Beret — Apple brandy, Aperol, Cranberry bitters, Apple cider, CioCiaro, Orange, Orange peel, Cranberry
- Northern Lights (David Delaney Jr.) — Sparkling white wine, Gin, Bitters, Simple syrup, Lemon juice, Cranberry sauce, Cranberry
- Sweater Weather Sangria — Moscato d'Asti, Apple bitters, Pear-vanilla Juice, Lemon juice, Grenadine, Pear, Cranberry, Cinnamon stick
- Moon Watcher — Blended Scotch, Madeira, Crème de Banane, Cranberry bitters, Allspice Dram, Lime peel, Cranberry
- Cranhattan — Bourbon, Sloe gin, Crème de Cacao, Orange peel, Cranberry