Why This Works
Cranberry is one of the few fruits tart enough to play the citrus role and the fruit role at once. Alongside the lime it creates layered acidity — two kinds of sharp at different frequencies — which is why the drink needs the sugar rim: the sweetness arrives at your lips instead of in the glass, keeping the liquid crisp.
The orange note, whether from an AF liqueur or juice, is the diplomat in the room. Orange is related to both cranberry and lime, and it rounds their combined bite into something festive rather than puckering.
The Alcohol-Free Swap
Alcohol-free tequila holds its own against cranberry's assertive tartness — a softer spirit would vanish.