Gin Spiked Cherry Limeade
Bold cherry flavor paired with that fun tartness of lime. Two summer flavors gently sweetened, then infused with a touch of fresh mint and served chilled over a glass of crushed ice. Add a kick of gin and a splash of maraschino liqueur and you’ve got an old-fashioned, all American drink turned cocktail!
Equipment
- small saucepan
- Cold shaker and muddler
- Sieve
Ingredients
- To make simple syrup:
- 2 cups water
- 3 cups sugar
- 10 to 12 fresh mint leaves
- ½ cup fresh pitted cherries
- 4 tablespoons simple syrup
- 4 tablespoons 4 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice, about 2 to 3 limes
- ¼ cup black cherry juice
- 8 tablespoons good gin
- 2 tablespoons maraschino liqueur, such as Luxardo
- 4 to 6 tablespoons tablespoons club soda
- Ice for shaking plus crushed for serving
- good maraschino cherries for serving, such as Luxardo
Instructions
- Drop the mint leaves into a cocktail shaker along with the fresh cherries. Muddle together crushing the cherries and mint leaves together.
- Pour in the simple syrup along with the fresh lime juice, cherry juice, the gin and the maraschino liqueur. Check for flavor, adding more simple syrup if needed.
- Top off the shaker with ice and shake vigorously until the cocktail is chilled, about 20 seconds.
- Divide the cocktail between two highball glasses filled with crushed ice.
- Top with 2 to 3 tablespoons of club soda per glass and stir to mix.
- Add 3 to 4 maraschino cherries to a cocktail pick for garnish.
Notes
The recipe for simple syrup makes a batch, about 2 to 2-½ cups and keeps well refrigerated, perfect for sweet iced tea, cocktails or cold drinks. If you want a smaller batch, you can easily cut the recipe in half.