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Cherry Bourbon Smash Cocktail Recipe

A vibrant, red cherry bourbon smash cocktail filled with crushed ice and garnished with a lemon wheel and two cherries.

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A straightforward recipe for making a balanced Cherry Bourbon Smash, featuring muddled fresh cherries and quality bourbon.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 oz Bourbon (Rye-based bourbon works well)
  • 0.75 oz Fresh lemon juice
  • 0.5 oz Simple syrup
  • 4 Fresh dark sweet cherries, pitted
  • 2 Dashes Angostura bitters
  • Ice
  • Garnish: One fresh cherry and a lemon wheel

Instructions

  1. Place the pitted cherries and simple syrup into a sturdy cocktail shaker.
  2. Muddle the cherries firmly until they release their juices and break down completely.
  3. Add the bourbon, fresh lemon juice, and bitters to the shaker.
  4. Fill the shaker two-thirds full with ice.
  5. Seal the shaker and shake hard until the shaker is well-chilled, about 15 to 20 seconds.
  6. Double strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Double straining removes small cherry fragments.
  7. Garnish your perfectly balanced bourbon smash with a fresh cherry and a lemon wheel.

Notes

  • For the best flavor, use fresh, ripe cherries instead of maraschino cherries.
  • If you do not have simple syrup, mix equal parts sugar and hot water until dissolved, then cool completely.
  • A muddler and a fine-mesh strainer are essential bar tools for this recipe.
  • For a variation, substitute the simple syrup with 0.5 oz of high-quality maple syrup for a deeper flavor profile.

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