Festive Christmas Cordial

1.In a medium saucepan, combine the fresh cranberries, sugar, and water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves and the cranberries burst, about 10 minutes.

2.Remove the saucepan from heat and let the mixture cool for about 15 minutes.

3.Once cooled, strain the cranberry mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a large bowl, pressing down on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids.

4.To the strained cranberry juice, add the vodka, orange juice, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and orange zest. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.

5.Transfer the cordial to a clean glass bottle or jar and seal tightly. Refrigerate for at least 24 hours to allow the flavors to meld together.

6.Before serving, give the cordial a good shake. Serve chilled in small glasses, garnished with fresh mint leaves.