[2] Ocean Spray Cran-Cherry is also available in a diet version (both photos courtesy Ocean Spray).

For non-alcoholic drinking during the holiday season, offer something more exciting than club soda or cider. Cranberry mocktails are especially popular during the holiday season, their bright red color often accented with a green sprig of rosemary or at least, a wedge of lime.

There are many cranberry mocktail recipes out there for your perusal. This spicy mocktail recipe, sent to us from Ocean Spray, was the first place winner in a contest a few years ago.

The recipe was created by Sharee Hunt, a chef and mixologist.

You can make a pitcher in advance, and turn it into a cocktail for those who request it, by adding vodka or tequila.

Both the juice and the ginger ale/ginger beer are available in diet versions, for a low-calorie drink. (Our favorite diet ginger beer is Gosling’s).
 
 
RECIPE: SPICY GINGER CRANBERRY CHERRY MOCKTAIL

Ingredients For 2 Drinks

 
Preparation

1. CUT the lime in half, and slice a wheel for garnish. Squeeze the juice from the other half into a cocktail shaker.

2. MUDDLE the jalapeño slices and rind from the squeezed lime half in the shaker.

3. ADD the vodka, cranberry juice and ginger ale/ginger beer. Shake, strain and serve over ice. Garnish with a lime wheel.