Change Up Your Usual Cranberry Vodka Cocktail With One Additional Ingredient

Vodka and cranberry juice go together like two peas in a pod. The classic cocktail combo is appropriate any time of year, whether you're serving it Cape Cod-style in the summer or with a sprig of rosemary for a festive winter spritzer. However, if it's one of your go-to cocktail flavor profiles, you might be looking to change things up a bit. According to Justin Lavenue — master mixologist, co-owner of Austin's The Roosevelt Room, and owner-operator of The Eleanor and RoadHaus Mobile Cocktails — there's one unique ingredient worth trying if you want to spruce up your version.

"If I want to make a vodka-cran more interesting, I reach for pimento dram, also called allspice dram," Lavenue says. Pimento dram is a spicy, rum-based liqueur that originated in Jamaica. To make it, rum is infused with sugar and pimento berries, which are the same thing as allspice berries. It's an intense flavor, but it pairs especially well with the cranberries' tartness.

"Cranberry loves winter spices, and allspice brings warmth, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, and peppery depth without making the drink heavy," Lavenue continues. "It takes a simple vodka cranberry and makes it taste seasonal and intentional." Whether you're trying to elevate your vodka cranberry for the holidays or simply looking to put a fresh spin on a classic, this easy addition is a great way to do just that.

Pimento dram isn't something you want to go heavy on, since it's pretty strong and can quickly overpower a drink. In fact, its potency is what makes it such an easy way to upgrade a vodka cranberry. "Just add ¼ oz of pimento or allspice dram to a standard vodka cranberry and stir it in," Lavenue says. "The goal is to add a little spice and structure, not turn the drink into a holiday candle." Lavenue recommends building the cocktail with one and a half ounces of vodka, three ounces of cranberry juice, and ¼ ounce of pimento dram. For an extra burst of brightness, he also suggests adding a small squeeze of lime juice if you happen to have a lime on hand.

Pimento dram has plenty of uses beyond vodka cranberry cocktails, too. One of the most common ways to use it is in the Lion's Tail, which is a spiced Prohibition-era bourbon-based cocktail. You can also add a splash of pimento dram into your whiskey sours for a cozy fall cocktail. Whichever way you decide to use it, it's sure to add warm, rich notes to your cocktail of choice.