Cranberry Mojito

Here is a fun seasonal mojito to serve at Thanksgiving or Christmas time. The cranberries provide a winter holiday-themed flavor. I got this from my newest favorite food site, Serious Eats.

Ingredients
For the cinnamon syrup:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 strips orange zest (2 inches each)

For the cocktail:

• 8 cranberries
• 8 mint leaves
• 2 lime wedges
• 1 ounce cinnamon syrup
• 2 1/2 ounces dark rum
• Ice
• Soda water, to taste

Instructions

1. To make the cinnamon syrup: dissolve sugar in water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add cinnamon sticks and orange zest. Reduce heat to low, simmer for 10 minutes. Let cool, then strain.
2. In a cocktail shaker, muddle cranberries lightly to break up, then add mint and lime and muddle another 10 strokes.
3. Add cinnamon syrup and rum and fill the shaker with ice. Shake vigorously. Pour the cocktail unstrained into a glass, top with soda and garnish with a mint sprig.

Serves 1. Drink up.