Cherry Whiskey Sour
When it comes to serving cocktails, whiskey sours are traditionally associated with rye or bourbon, lemon juice, and sugar. We bring the concept up a notch with our cherry whiskey sour recipe, using maraschino cherries and their juice as the sweetener. It’s easy to make and oh, so smooth!
Have your muddler and cocktail shaker ready and, of course, a little whiskey. We used Jack Daniels bourbon for its fine quality and taste, but you can easily substitute your own favorite brand.
Simply add maraschino cherries to a shaker, crush them well with a muddler, and pour in a tablespoon of syrup from the maraschino cherry jar. Add ice, bourbon and lemon juice then give it a good shake.
Serve the cocktail straight or on the rocks, in an old-fashioned glass, to experience the perfect combination of sweet and sour. Your taste buds will love the roller coaster ride!
Did you know maraschino cherries are derived from marasca cherries but are not considered real cherries? Years ago in Europe, marasca cherries were preserved in liqueurs.
They were eventually brought to the states, but were banned when prohibition became law. A process was later developed to preserve the cherries without using alcohol. Artificial coloring gave them the brilliant red color for which they are now famous.
Sour cocktails date back to the mid-nineteenth century. The epithet comes from its flavor, contributed by fresh lemon juice, to which liquor and a pinch of sugar are added. Although the whiskey sour is the original, there are countless renditions using other liquors, eggs, and liqueurs.
The one thing all sours have in common is that they’re always shaken and traditionally served in a sour glass, but they may also be served in an old-fashioned glass.
cherry whiskey sour recipe
Ingredients
- 4 maraschino cherries
- 4 oz whiskey, Jack Daniels
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp maraschino cherry syrup
- ice
Instructions
- Muddle cherries in cocktail shaker and add whiskey, lemon juice, cherry syrup and ice to cocktail shaker.
- Shake cocktail shaker vigorously and strain over ice into glass.