Cherry couldn't possibly be a more misunderstood flavor. From its mistreatment in cough syrup to the pretend cherry flavors in candy, it's no wonder people shy away from cherry. Thankfully, these cherry cocktails share none of that syrupy medicinal characteristics. So allow these juicy, and delicious cocktails to sweep you off your feet.
Cherry Vodka Soda
Kick-off your cherry cocktail menu with an easy and tasty cherry vodka drink. Not only is it easy to build, but it's easy to customize, too. Consider making things a bit sweeter by using cola instead of club soda for a cherry cola cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces vodka
- ¾ ounce cherry liqueur
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Cherry and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice, vodka, and cherry liqueur.
- Top off with club soda.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with cherry and mint sprig.
Cherry Limeade Cocktail
Move your menu into a citrus gear with a fizzy and tasty lime and cherry alcoholic drink.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce cherry juice
- 3 ounces limeade
- Ice
- Lemon-lime soda to top off
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, cherry juice, and limeade.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with lemon-lime soda.
- Garnish with cherry.
Cherry Bourbon Smash
A bourbon smash is a dream for any whiskey-lover, and the rich cherry flavors bring this spin to life.
Ingredients
- 5-6 pitted cherries
- 2-3 lemon wedges
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Lemon slice and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle cherries and lemon wedges with a splash of simple syrup.
- Add ice, bourbon, and remaining simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with lemon slice and mint sprig.
Cherry Martini
Keep it simple and keep it classic with a cherry martini.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces citron vodka
- ¾ ounce orange liqueur
- ¾ ounce tart cherry juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, citron vodka, orange liqueur, cherry juice, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with cherry.
Cherry Singapore Sling
Gloss over a few of the typical ingredients in this cherry riff on the classic gin sling drink, the Singapore sling.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces gin
- ¾ ounce Bénédictine
- ¾ ounce cherry liqueur
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, Bénédictine, cherry liqueur, lime juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with cherry.
Blood and Sand
Few, if any, cocktails are more iconic with bursting cherry flavor than the scotch-forward blood and sand.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce scotch
- ¾ ounce cherry liqueur
- ¾ ounce sweet vermouth
- ¾ ounce orange juice
- Ice
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, scotch, cherry liqueur, sweet vermouth, and orange juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with orange peel.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- ¾ ounce tart cherry juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Ginger beer to top off
- Mint leaf and cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass or copper mug, add ice, vodka, tart cherry juice, and lime juice.
- Top off with ginger beer.
- Garnish with mint leaf and cherry.
Cherry Bomb
Incorporate rum into your cherry cocktails for a tropical experience, especially in a beloved cherry bomb.
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, white rum, cherry liqueur, lime juice, and grenadine.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with lemon-lime soda.
- Garnish with cherry.
Cherry Sour
If tart cherry flavors float your boat, then this sour cocktail will be a smooth sailing dream.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- ¾ ounce tart cherry juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 1 egg white
- Ice
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add vodka, cherry juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white.
- Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
- Add ice to shaker.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with cherry.
Cherry Negroni
Soften up a bitter Negroni with sweet cherry flavors that blend seamlessly with the traditional ingredients
Instructions
- 1 ounce gin
- 1 ounce Campari
- ¾ ounce sweet vermouth
- ¾ ounce cherry liqueur
- Ice
- Lemon peel for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, and cherry liqueur.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with lemon peel.
Cherry Bellini
Steer away from the typical orchard and stone fruit bellinis in favor of a tart riff.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce cherry liqueur
- ¼ ounce pear liqueur
- Prosecco to top off
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a Champagne flute.
- In chilled glass, add cherry liqueur and pear liqueur.
- Top off with prosecco.
- Garnish with cherry.
Ingredients
- Lime wedge and salt for garnish
- 2 ounces tequila
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce cherry liqueur
- ¼ ounce orange liqueur
- ¼ ounce agave
- Ice
- Lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lime wedge.
- With the salt on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the salt to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice,
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with lime wheel.
Cherry Manhattan
Add a flavorful upgrade to your typical Manhattan but without losing its spirit. Alternatively, skip the cherry liqueur and use a cherry-infused bourbon.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces rye whiskey
- ½ ounce sweet vermouth
- ½ ounce cherry liqueur
- 2 dashes aromatic bitters
- 1 dash cherry bitters
- Ice
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a coupe or cocktail glass.
- In a mixing glass, add ice, rye, sweet vermouth, cherry liqueur, and bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with cherry.
Cherry Old-Fashioned
Brighten your old-fashioned using cherry liqueur, cherry juice, or cherry simple syrup. Better yet, put your cherry-infused whiskey to work.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ¾ ounce cherry liqueur
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- 4-5 dashes aromatic bitters
- 2-3 dashes orange bitters
- Ice
- Cocktail cherries for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, bourbon, cherry liqueur, simple syrup, and bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with cocktail cherries.
Cherry Mojito
A mojito is crisp and refreshing, and fruity cherry flavors amplify the flavors of this cocktail.
Ingredients
- 4-5 fresh mint leaves
- 2-3 pitted cherries
- 2 ounces white rum
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- ¼ ounce raspberry liqueur
- Crushed ice
- Club soda to top off
- Raspberry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle mint leaves and cherries with a splash of simple syrup.
- Add crushed ice, rum, lime juice, raspberry liqueur, and remaining simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Pour, do not strain, into highball glass.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with raspberry.
Cherry Espresso Martini
If you're craving something a little more sweet than espresso and cherry, you can add a splash of crème de cacao to make this a chocolate cherry espresso martini.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce bourbon or vodka
- ¾ ounce freshly brewed espresso
- ½ ounce cherry liqueur
- ½ ounce coffee liqueur
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Cherry and grated chocolate for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, bourbon, espresso, cherry liqueur, coffee liqueur, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with cherry and grated chocolate.
Cheers to a Cherry Cocktail
It doesn't matter if you muddle, shake, or stir your cherry cocktail, you're guaranteed a refreshing drink. So crack your ice tray, drop a few cubes into your glass, and toast to the modern era of delicious cherry cocktails.
