Bonus Post - Cranberry Orange Bulleit Rye Infusion - Perfect for Christmas and Winter

Welcome to the instructions and review for our second infusion. For this one, we want something that is perfect for the Christmas holiday so we're going with Cranberry and Orange infused Bulleit Rye. This is something anyone can do to add variety and excitement for their bourbon and makes a wonderful winter drink, or, even makes a great gift.

Ingredients & equipment:

• 750ml (around 3 cups) of Bulleit Rye (or a bourbon of your choice)
• 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries (we used fresh)
• 1/3 cup of water
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar (to taste). We used 1/3 of a cup. 
• 1 peel of orange
• 1 large mason jar
• Small sauce pan
• Cheesecloth or strainer

Recipe:

1. Combine cranberries, water, and brown sugar in small sauce pan and cook over medium/low until all the cranberries have popped open and sauce has thickened.
2. Remove from heat and allow to cool
3. Add cranberry sauce, rye/bourbon, and orange peel to a large mason jar and mix well.
4. Mix infusion daily and allow to steep for 2-3 days.
5. Once the taste is correct, strain with a cheesecloth to remove sediment and pour into your desired container
6. Enjoy!

Variation: Follow instructions as above and add two cinnamon sticks.

Manufacturer: The Duchess and Diageo

Age: 4 day soak

Location Produced: Bulleit Distilling Co., Louisville, KY and The Roehl Estate, Powell, OH

Mash Bill: 95% rye, 5% barley

Alcohol: 45%

Who is this for?: Anyone looking for a fun new way to experience bourbon or whiskey.

Cost (Ohio): $2.00 for a package of cranberries, $~1.00 for an orange, $25.67 for Bulleit Rye = $28.67

Review: 

Right off the bat, you notice how red this infusion came out. On the nose, there are strong smells of cranberry with a slight hint of orange. If you want more of the orange aroma coming through, we recommend using additional orange peels (for context we used one). However, adding additional orange peels may cause a slight bitterness.

The first thing you notice when drinking is how sweet this is. The orange finally comes through on the taste, as well as the cranberry. The sugar is really brought to the forefront. Because of this, we recommend using this as a dessert bourbon and drinking on the rocks or with a splash of water or both. If you're looking to mix, we recommend ginger ale. 

Final Verdict: The infusion came out very close to what we were expecting. If you're looking for something on the sweet side, stay with 1/3 to 1/2 cup of sugar. If you want it less sweet, obviously dial it back. This is a festive infusion for the holidays that's different than your standard bourbon and egg nog. We think everyone will love this, especially those who aren't traditional bourbon drinkers who are looking for something on the sweeter side. 

We'd love to hear what you think. Drop a note in the comment box. 

Note: This review was done by Mark and The Duchess. The bottle and produce were purchased at Giant Eagle.