Rough chop cranberries and place in saucepan with water. Bring to simmer over medium heat, reduce to simmer and cook 20 minutes.
Gently mash cranberries, straining through a fine strainer or cheesecloth. It should yield about 1 cup of pulpy juice, add water to make a cup if not.
In a medium saucepan, add cranberry "juice" and 1 cup sugar. Bring to boil and IMMEDIATELY remove from heat, set aside to cool. Store in fridge. Simple syrup lasts about 3 months refrigerated.
Cranberry Lemon Drop Martini
Fill shaker or mason jar with ice about ⅔ full. Pour in 2 oz of cranberry simple syrup, lemon juice and vodka. Adjusting vodka and lemon down if preferred.
Rub lemon juice on rim of martini glass and dip in all natural sugar.
Shake, shake, shake the covered jar or shaker, 40-60 vigorous shakes.
Pour into glass, garnish with lemon twist and sugared cranberries. Serve immediately.
Notes
Make a pitcher!
Add 1 cup cranberry simple syrup, ½-1 cup lemon juice (start with a little and take a little taste, add more to desired sweet-tart ratio) and 1 cup vodka. Provide guests with sugared rim glasses if desired and a shaker, allowing guests to make their own.