Cherry Vanilla Bourbon Porch Sipper
Bourbon, tart cherry, vanilla, and lemon make a ruby-red cocktail that is smooth, bright, and easy to mix.
Prep: 5 · Cook: 5 · Total: 10 · Serves: 2 · Difficulty: Easy · Rating: 4.7/5 (124 reviews)
INSPIRED BY
An original bourbon cocktail pairing tart cherry and vanilla with a bright lemon finish.
Story
Theo wanted a bourbon drink with a little more color and a lot less fuss. Tart cherry brings the ruby glow, lemon keeps it moving, and vanilla makes the bourbon feel round and easy. The fizz is optional but highly encouraged when the afternoon is warm. Put the pitcher where everyone can reach it.
By Theo
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 ounces bourbon
- 3 ounces tart cherry juice
- 1 1/2 ounces fresh lemon juice
- 4 dashes aromatic bitters
- Sparkling water, for topping
- Ice
- Fresh cherries and lemon wheels, for serving
Instructions
- Combine sugar, water, and vanilla in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Warm until the sugar dissolves, then cool the vanilla syrup for a few minutes.
- Fill two rocks glasses with ice and divide the bourbon, cherry juice, lemon juice, and bitters between them.
- Add 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup to each glass and stir until well chilled.
- Top each drink with a splash of sparkling water and stir once from the bottom.
- Garnish with fresh cherries and lemon wheels, then serve immediately.
Chef Tips
- Make the vanilla syrup up to 1 week ahead and refrigerate it in a sealed jar.
- Use unsweetened tart cherry juice so the drink stays balanced.
- Taste before adding all the syrup because cherry juices vary in sweetness.
- For a stronger drink, skip the sparkling water and serve it over one large cube.
Cook's Notes
- Cool the syrup before mixing so it does not melt the ice too quickly.
- Fresh lemon juice makes the drink noticeably brighter than bottled juice.
- Keep the sparkling water cold and add it at the very end.
- The recipe makes two drinks but doubles easily for a small gathering.