Cherry Bomb Recipe | Cherry Bourbon Smash
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Are you in for a treat! This simple recipe for a Cherry Bomb cocktail is quite frankly, “the bomb”! Fresh cherries muddled with rich bourbon, vanilla, maple syrup, lemon juice and a splash of club soda, makes the ultimate Cherry Bourbon Smash!
HOW TO MAKE A CHERRY BOURBON SMASH
I was trying to figure out what to name this cocktail, a “Cherry Vanilla“, but it also has maple syrup in it.
Perhaps “Cherry Maple Vanilla Cocktail“, though it’s made with bourbon as well, “Maple Cherry Vanilla Bourbon Cocktail” that’s a bit long.
Then I asked my husband if he wanted a drink last week and he said, “Yes, can you make that Cherry Bomb again!?” A drink is born! It’s also known as a Cherry Bourbon Smash!
I love fresh seasonal cocktails, like this Blackberry Bourbon Moscow Mule or this Grapefruit Basil Vodka Smash. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I concocted this perfect late summer cocktail.
Using in-season, fresh* cherries, bursting with amazing flavor, encouraging their dark red juice and flavors to mix with wee dram of bourbon, maple syrup, vanilla and club soda.
The perfect way to end a long, hot summer day. *Frozen cherries may be substituted!
Cherry Cocktail Ingredients
- 1/3 cup fresh cherries, pitted and sliced (frozen may be substituted)
- 1 – 1.5 oz bourbon
- 1/2-1 Tablespoon Pure Maple Syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or go over the top with our Bourbon Vanilla
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Ice cubes or crushed ice
- Club soda
Cut or pit about 1/3 of a cup of fresh cherries and place into an old fashioned glass. Use equal amounts of frozen (slightly thawed) cherries.
Pour the bourbon over the cherries…
…and then the vanilla, I used my homemade bourbon vanilla, either is fine!
Then add maple syrup…
Finally, the fresh lemon juice.
Grabbing a muddler or the end of a thick wooden spoon, gently smash the cherries with the liquids, releasing their juices and flavors.
Filling your glass with ice (I used my Ninja blender and crushed ice)
Top off the glass with club soda, using a spoon gently stir and bring up some of the cherries to the top for a delicious, refreshing, stunning Cherry Cocktail!!
How to Make a non-alcoholic Cherry Shirley Temple Drink
This makes a refreshing and vibrant Cherry Maple Mocktail! Simply omit the bourbon and adding a bit more cherries/juice and club soda for a slightly different take on a Shirley Temple drink.
I hope you have loved this cherry bomb, cherry bourbon smash or whatever you want to call it! It’s one of our favorites!
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup fresh cherries pitted and sliced (or frozen may be substituted)
- 1 – 1.5 oz bourbon omit for mocktail
- [1/2-1 Tablespoon Pure Maple Syrup]
- [1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or try bourbon vanilla]
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Ice cubes or crushed ice
- Club soda
Instructions
- Cut or pit about 1/3 of a cup of fresh (or frozen) cherries and place into an old fashioned glass.
- Pour the bourbon over the cherries and then the vanilla, I made homemade vanilla using a bottle of bourbon, so this was bourbon vanilla, either is fine.
- Then add in maple syrup, lemon juice and using a muddler or the end of a thick wooden spoon, gently smash the cherries with the liquids, releasing their juices and flavors.
- Fill glass with ice (I used my Ninja blender and crushed ice), top off the glass with club soda, using a spoon gently stir and bring up some of the cherries to the top for a delicious, refreshing, stunning Cherry Bomb Cocktail!!
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About Kathleen Pope
Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer
Hi, I’m Kathleen Pope. Here at The Fresh Cooky you will find easy, mostly from-scratch, trusted recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen. Read more about Kathleen here.
This was our “theme” cocktail for a recent camping trip to Door County WI which is known for their cherries so we named it our “Door County Bourbon Smash”. Everyone loved it! We used less syrup and Sprite instead of the club soda. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
We love this drink! Maybe a little too much LOL! The fresh cherries with the bourbon is so smooth!
The cherries are my fave and work so well with bourbon! CHEERS!
Thank you my friend!
I’ve been on the hunt for a wonderfully balanced bourbon cocktail recently, and this cherry bomb is it! I love the addition of maple syrup and the vanilla extract for a little sweetness. Seriously–so good!
What a great refreshing drink in all the heat we’ve been having. Really enjoyed it with the BBQ this weekend!
This is delicious. I’ve been trying my hand at different cocktails during all of this stay at home business, and this one I’ll make after all this is over! A great treat.
Love this cocktail – just the right amount of tart and sweet!