Quick answer

The Cranberry Manhattan Infusion Kit is a dried-fruit-and-spice blend made with The Boozy Botanist to flavor Stranahan's whiskey: add the blend to your whiskey, let it steep, strain, and build a Manhattan. The set also includes a second component alongside the infusion kit, so check the packaging before you start. Use a clean jar, taste as you go, and keep the steep short enough that the citrus and warming spices stay balanced rather than bitter.

What comes in the set and what you still need

The kit itself is the flavoring component: a curated blend of dried cranberries, citrus, and warming spices designed to enhance Stranahan's whiskey with a rich, balanced profile. It was created in partnership with The Boozy Botanist. Because the set includes both the Cranberry Manhattan infusion kit and a second item, open the box and separate the pieces before you begin so you do not accidentally steep or discard the wrong component.

You will still supply the whiskey and a clean glass jar with a tight lid. A small funnel and a fine-mesh strainer make the transfer and straining steps much less messy, and a jigger helps you keep the finished Manhattan consistent from the first pour to the last.

How long to infuse, and how to tell it is ready

Infusion strength depends on how much whiskey you use and how warm the room is, so treat any timing as a starting point rather than a rule. Begin tasting early and stop when the cranberry reads clearly and the spice sits in the background. If the citrus starts to taste sharp or pithy, you have gone too far — strain immediately rather than waiting for a scheduled end point.

Work in small batches the first time. A half-bottle test lets you dial in the flavor before committing a full bottle, and it gives you a reference point for the next round.

Building the drink after infusing

Once strained, the infused whiskey is the base of your Manhattan. Stir it with sweet vermouth and bitters over ice, then strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a brandied or fresh cherry. Because the kit already carries fruit and spice, start with a slightly lower proportion of vermouth than your usual Manhattan and adjust upward; the reverse — adding more vermouth to tame an over-infused batch — usually just muddies the cranberry.

If you prefer to keep the whiskey neat, the infused spirit also works over a single large cube, which slows dilution and keeps the spice notes from flattening.

Step-by-step: infusing and serving the kit

  1. 1. Open the set and separate the components: Unpack the box fully and set the infusion blend aside from the second included item. Read any printed guidance on the infusion packet before you open it. Checkpoint: if you cannot tell which piece is the infusion blend, stop and confirm before adding anything to whiskey.
  2. 2. Combine the blend with Stranahan's in a clean jar: Pour your measured whiskey over the blend in a glass jar with a tight lid, then seal it. Use a jar you can see through so you can watch the color and fruit deepen. Common mistake: using a jar that still smells of vinegar or soap — glass holds odors and will carry them into the whiskey.
  3. 3. Steep at room temperature, tasting early and often: Keep the jar out of direct sun and taste a small spoonful at intervals. Aim for clear cranberry with spice in the background, not a sharp citrus edge. Checkpoint: pull the blend the moment the citrus turns pithy; bitterness only increases with more time.
  4. 4. Strain and store the infused whiskey: Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean bottle or jar, pressing lightly on the solids if you want a touch more fruit. Cap it and store away from heat and light. Common mistake: leaving the spent blend in the jar 'for later' — it keeps extracting and will eventually overpower the spirit.
  5. 5. Stir the Manhattan and adjust to taste: Stir the infused whiskey with sweet vermouth and bitters over ice, strain into a chilled glass, and garnish with a cherry. Start with less vermouth than usual and add more only if the drink needs rounding out. Next step: note the whiskey-to-vermouth ratio you liked so the next batch is repeatable.
  6. 6. Take the leftovers with you: If you are carrying the infused whiskey to a gathering, decant it into a flask, cap it tightly, and hand wash the flask afterward rather than putting it in a dishwasher. Checkpoint: fill the flask close to the top to limit the air space that dulls the aroma over a long day out.

Product facts

  • Cranberry Manhattan Infusion Kit Set: Cranberry Manhattan Infusion Kit created with The Boozy Botanist, featuring dried cranberries, citrus, and warming spices designed to enhance Stranahan's whiskey; the set includes both the infusion kit and a second component. Knowing the set contains two pieces prevents you from steeping or discarding the wrong item, and the stated flavor profile tells you what to taste for while the whiskey infuses.
  • Copper Flask: Copper Flask with a captive-lid style and easy screw-off cap; hand wash. A flask is the practical way to carry the finished infused whiskey to a gathering, and the hand-wash instruction matters because the infused spirit leaves residue that a dishwasher cycle can trap.