The Holiday Spiced Cranberry Margarita is a festive, crowd-ready batch built for 5-gallon keg service — real agave margarita concentrate, deep cranberry, and holiday spiced bitters, pressurized on N₂ for a silky, consistent pour all season long.
Your holiday margarita program — zero scratch work, maximum impact. Top Hat Agave Margarita concentrate handles the lime and agave balance, cranberry juice adds body and deep seasonal color, and holiday spiced bitters round out the warmth. Works with tequila, mezcal, or a zero-proof agave alternative.
Batch Method
- Add 5 liters Tequila, Mezcal, or zero-proof alternative to a clean 5-gallon Cornelius keg.
- Add 4 bottles Top Hat Agave Margarita Batching Mix.
- Add 5 qts cranberry juice.
- Add 1 oz *Holiday Spiced Bitters.
- Add 5 qts cold filtered water.
- Seal the keg and shake vigorously side to side for 2 full minutes.
- Pressurize with N₂. See instructions below.
- Refrigerate minimum 12 hours before first service.
- Serve ~6 oz over ice. Garnish with whole cranberries, sliced lime, cinnamon stick, and fresh mint.
- Reshake twice daily to re-integrate ingredients.
Pro move: Cranberry juice adds natural color that deepens beautifully in the keg overnight. Batch the night before for the richest pour — and shake hard before opening for service.
- Seal the keg and shake vigorously side to side for 2 full minutes.
- Connect gray/silver Cornelius "gas in" connector to GAS IN plug on keg lid.
- Set N₂ regulator to 12–15 psi.
- Pull up pressure release ring 3 times quickly to cycle gas through keg.
- Test flow. Reduce to 10–12 psi if pouring too fast.
- Reshake twice daily before service to re-integrate all ingredients.
*Holiday Spiced Bitters
This quick infusion amps up warm holiday aromatics for mules, highballs, Old Fashioned riffs, and winter spritzes. The goal is spice-forward aroma — not syrupy sweetness.
Ingredients: 4 oz Angostura bitters · 4 oz orange bitters · 10 whole cinnamon sticks · 10 whole cloves · 10 whole allspice berries · Jar with lid + fine strainer or coffee filter
Combine all ingredients in a jar, seal, and steep 24–48 hours. Strain before using. Makes ~8 oz.