I have this feeling that web readers flock to this tequila cranberry cocktail recipe because of the photos. It’s been praised by friends and many think that I used special lighting techniques to take them. I didn’t. I’m not even sure that it’s the lighting that makes the photos dramatic. I think it’s the horses. But, anyway, about the drink…

Commercial cranberry juice comes in at least three kinds: pure and unsweetened; diluted with water and sweetened; or mixed with other juices to make it less tart. Which is best for making this cocktail drink?

In our case, it’s the second kind — diluted with water and sweetened. Pure and unsweetened cranberry juice is much too tart. The kind mixed with other juices might not taste so good with tequila.

If you’re using unsweetened cranberry juice, instead of simply adding sugar, I recommend using simple syrup infused with lemon or lime zest. That will give your drink even better flavor and aroma!

Tequila cranberry cocktail

Put ice cubes into a cocktail shaker, pour in the tequila and the cranberry juice, shake them all together then pour the drink into a glass — minus the ice cubes. Why? Because as the ice cubes melt, the drink will be diluted and turn bland. So, the purpose of adding ice cubes to the shaker is just to make the drink cold.