8 Very Cherry Cocktail Recipes

Sour Cherry Mezcal Margarita
Photo: Photo by Kelsey Hansen / Food Styling by Lauren McAnelly / Prop Styling by Sue Mitchell

From sour cherry-yuzu bellinis to a smoky, brandy-infused homemade cordial, here are five cherry-forward cocktails to get acquainted with.

01 of 08

Sour Cherry Negroni

Sour Cherry Negroni Cocktail Recipe

Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon

The Sour Cherry Negroni is an icon on the cocktail menu at Hawksmoor in New York City. It's the perfect mix of sweet, sour, and bitter with a lovely deep red hue and the most delicious garnish — a cocktail pick skewered with cherries, of course.

02 of 08

Smoked Cherry Bounce

Smoke Cherry Bounce Recipe
Photo by Greg DuPree / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer

Smoking juicy, sweet Bing cherries infuses them with a heady, savory aroma. The depth carries into boozy cherry bounce — after a three-month rest. Plenty of sugar, a touch of bright lemon juice, and smooth brandy round out this vibrant homemade cordial.

03 of 08

Sour Cherry Gin Slings

Sour-Cherry Gin Slings
© John Kernick

This sweet-tart concoction is based on the classic Singapore Sling, replacing the traditional cherry brandy with an intensely vibrant homemade sour cherry syrup. With a squirt of sparkling water, the syrup also makes a great base for kid-friendly cherry soda.

04 of 08

Sour Cherry Mezcal Margarita

Sour Cherry Mezcal Margarita
Photo by Kelsey Hansen / Food Styling by Lauren McAnelly / Prop Styling by Sue Mitchell

This fruity spin on a margarita combines smoky mezcal, citrusy Cointreau, and sweet-tart cherry puree in a vibrant red drink perfect for late-summer sipping. Bright, pleasantly tart sour cherries are in season for a limited window, so this simple roasted puree is an easy way to preserve their flavor.

05 of 08

Sakura Martini

Sakura Martini
Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Ali Ramee / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell

This elegant, modern take on the saketini was created by Kenta Goto, owner of Manhattan's Bar Goto and Brooklyn's Bar Goto Niban. Goto uses aged genshu sake and gin in the drink with Maraska Maraschino Cherry Liqueur made from Croatian cherries.

06 of 08

Sour Cherry-Yuzu Bellinis

Sour Cherry-Yuzu Bellinis
© Lucy Schaeffer

Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten once served this effervescent sour cherry cocktail for his guests at a pig roast. He added yuzu juice for a citrus kick; a mix of tangerine and lime juices nearly matches yuzu's flavor.

07 of 08

Marasca Fizz

Marasca Fizz
© Tina Rupp

This sparkly cocktail mixes together cherry liqueur, Angostura bitters, brown sugar, and maraschino cherries with Champagne.

08 of 08

Cherry Red

Cherry Red Non-Alcoholic Drink

Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Oset Babür-Winter

Sweet, tart, and a little spicy, the Cherry Red is sure to become one of your favorite non-alcoholic cocktails for dinner parties, happy hour, and casual sipping at home when you don't feel like adding booze into the mix.

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