Don't get cranberry sauced, now ...

If your impression of cranberries involves a wobbling cylindrical jelly-like substance served with turkey, we have some work to do. Not only are cranberries a truly unique fruit grown right here in South Jersey, but can be used in a number of applications. Alcoholic drinks, for example. How are the local bars and taverns using this ingredient? Let’s see …

The Moscow Mule takes on a boggy makeover at Kaminski’s with its Cranberry Mule, one of a number of mixed drinks available on the bar's fall cocktail menu. The Cranberry Mule uses Tito’s Handmade Vodka along with Gosling’s Ginger Beer. Add a splash of cranberry juice and a lime garnish, and the drink is done. The Fall Cocktail menu has drinks to keep spirits bright  through the holiday season. If you like it  straight, just peruse Kaminski’s Whiskey Bar. Be it from Scotland, Ireland, Kentucky or Bristol, Pennsylvania (Dad’s Hat, or course), there’s a whiskey to meet your taste buds. 1424 Brace Road, Cherry Hill. (856) 428-2555. kaminskisbarandgrill.com.

Count on these South Jersey bars

If you like your cranberry liquid on the, erm, Texas side of things, Victory Bar & Grill has a trio of cocktails made with Deep Eddy Cranberry Vodka. Have a Cranberry Crush (with DeKuyper Triple Sec, club soda and lime juice) if you like the concept of fall but want to hang onto a bit of summer. Also on the specialty cocktail menu is the CranCod (cranberry vodka, club soda and lime) and the Mason Dixon Madras (cranberry vodka, orange juice and cherry garnish). If you’re bothered by cranberry vodka from Texas, the craft beer menu at Victory Bar & Grill has a solid sampling of local brews from Cape May Brewing, Glasstown Brewing and Brotherton. 795 Route 73, Berlin Township. (856) 768-5454. victorybarandgrill.com.

Maybe you like your cranberry in beer form. Luckily for you, Lower Forge Brewery has just released  its Cranberry Rake beer using locally grown cranberries. How local? How about from Whelan Farms in Shamong – local enough for you? The name Cranberry Rake is a nod (and perhaps a wink) to the rakes used to separate the cranberries after the bogs are flooded. Cranberry Rake is one of several brews that Lower Forge has on tap at its home on Main Street in Medford. The brewery’s tasting room is open Thursday through Saturday. 14 S. Main St., Medford. (609) 975-9532. lowerforge.com.

Countdown: Your guide to Thanksgiving dinner

Speaking of Shamong, there is one locally produced cranberry drink that has become a bit of a holiday tradition: the cranberry wine produced by Valenzano Winery. The winery makes a Berry White and a Berry Red cranberry wine. There’s also a Cranberry Bubbly, a sparkling cranberry wine. But, according to Valenzano’s website, the Cranberry Bubbly is out of stock.1909 Route 206, Shamong. (609) 268-6731. valenzanowine.com.