FRIDAY COCKTAIL - CRANBERRY MARGARITA!

This is a great Thanksgiving Day cocktail for your family gathering from The Red Cat in NYC!  Let's call it Thanksgiving-in-a-Glass!

For Cranberry Jam
3/4 cup fresh cranberries
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp finely grated orange zest
2 Tbl fresh orange juice

Assembly
1 Tbl salt
1 Tbl sugar
1-1/2 tsp Chinese five spice powder
1 lime wedge, plus 2 oz fresh lime juice
4 oz fresh orange juice
6 oz TEQUILA

Cranberry Jam
Bring cranberries, sugar, orange juice, and 1/4 cup water to a boil in a saucepan.  Reduce to simmer, stirring occasionally until thick and "jammy". This takes 30-40 minutes.  Mix in orange zest and let cool.  Jam can be made up to 5 days ahead .  Cover and chill.

Assembly
Mix salt, sugar, and five spice powder on a small plate.  Rub rims of Old Fashioned glasses with a lime wedge; dip in salt mixture and fill glasses with ice.
For each cocktail, combine 1/2 lime juice, 1 oz. orange juice, 1-1/2 oz. tequila and 2 Tbl cranberry jam in a cocktail shaker; fill with ice.  Cover and shake until outside is frosty, about 30 seconds.  Strain into prepared glass.

You can garnish with a lime or fresh cranberries.

THE RED CAT!
ENJOY!

FRIDAY COCKTAIL - NEW ORLEANS SAZERAC!

This is a New Orleans CLASSIC!  It is best when you make it ahead of time in a batch and let it get nice and chilled in the frig.

3 cups rye whiskey
1/2 cups simple syrup
1 tbl absinthe
1-1/2 tsp bitters
3/4 cups ice water
lemon twist

Mix all ingredients in a large pitcher.  Chill in the frig for at least 2 hours or up to a day.  Pour into rocks glasses filled with ice and garnish with a lemon twist.  This makes about 12.

LOVE NEW ORLEANS!
ENJOY!