Cocktails
Halloween Black Cherry Bourbon Smash
The Halloween black cherry bourbon smash brings a deep red color to the table without food coloring or elaborate props. Cherry and maple soften the bourbon, while lemon keeps the drink from turning syrupy. It is a different kind of Halloween drink from our fizzy blackberry witch fizz: shorter, stronger and served over crushed ice.
Tested by Better Sweet Drinks. How we test recipes.
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WHAT YOU NEED
Ingredients
METHOD
How to make it
- Add the bourbon, cherry juice, lemon juice and maple syrup to a shaker with ice.
- Shake for 10 to 15 seconds, then strain into a rocks glass filled with crushed ice.
- Garnish with pitted cherries and a lemon twist. Serve with a short straw if you use lots of crushed ice.
Recipe notes
If using sweetened cherry juice, begin with half the maple syrup and adjust after tasting. For a nonalcoholic version, replace bourbon with 2 oz chilled black tea and top with 1 oz soda water.
Adjust the sweetness. Tart cherry juice is much sharper than cherry nectar or sweetened cherry juice. If your bottle is sweetened, start with 1/4 oz maple syrup and add more only after tasting. If you prefer a lighter drink, add 1 to 2 oz chilled soda water after straining; the color will be paler.
For a nonalcoholic version, skip the bourbon, add 2 oz chilled black tea and finish with 1 oz soda water. Make the tea ahead and cool it completely before mixing. For a crowd, mix the bourbon, juice, lemon and maple in a pitcher and refrigerate for up to a few hours; shake individual servings with ice so they stay cold and bright.
