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The simplest Garden Cherry Bourbon Smash…to kick off your summer Cocktail Saturday enjoyment. Sweet summer cherries, smashed together with fresh garden basil, thyme, lemon, bourbon, a splash of Cointreau, white wine vinegar, and fizzy, spicy ginger beer. This recipe makes for a quick and simple summer garden-inspired cocktail. Add a sweet gingery sugar-rimmed glass and you’ll keep everyone coming back.
Kicking off summer a bit early (which is officially one week from today) with a cocktail inspired by our herb garden…and one too many boxes of cherries in the fridge. Does anyone else get overly excited and buy up all the summer fruits? My eyes are always bigger than my stomach this time of year. But it’s OK, the extra produce in the fridge just provides me with even more inspiration.
Which brings me to this drink.
Yes, this is that summer cocktail that uses up what you’ve got in the garden, plus sweet cherries, a good amount of bourbon, and spicy, sweet, and bubbly ginger beer too.
Jumping right into the details today as I promised myself that I would keep this post short and sweet. I LOVE writing these cocktail posts for you guys, but they’re meant to be a shorter post…and somehow they’ve become my most detailed. So, keeping to my word…short, sweet, and to the point today.
To make this cherry bourbon smash…
It’s simple and so darn easy.
You’ll need a few things. Sweet summertime cherries (though frozen work too), freshly picked basil and thyme (but you could also do without if you don’t have), lemons, bourbon (but tequila is nice too), Cointreau (also known as orange liquor), and spicy-sweet ginger beer. Oh, and a little sugar too if you’d like to make a sweet and fun rimmed glass.
First, start with the sweet lemony ginger lined rim. It’s simply lemon zest, fresh ginger, and a pinch of granulated sugar mixed together. It adds such a spicy and sweet touch to each drink. It’s that “extra special” touch your drink needs.
Next, find yourself a cocktail shaker or even just a mason jar. Muddle the cherries, basil, thyme leaves, and lemon juice together until those cherries are all smashed down. Muddling the cherries with the garden herbs infuses the flavor of the herbs into the drink in a subtle, non-overpowering way.
Now, add the bourbon, Cointreau, and white wine vinegar (for a bit of tang), and then shake, shake, shake.
At this point, strain the drink into your glass and top off with that spicy ginger beer for a touch of fizz.
Super simple, but oh so pretty…the perfect cocktail to really kick off summer.
A few final notes…
This one is simple and while I love the trio of cherries, basil, and thyme, you can play around with this mix of fresh summer produce. If cherries aren’t for you, any berries or stone fruit will work well. I’d start with blackberries, but again, any berry you love. Plums would be delicious too!
And if you don’t love bourbon? Try using tequila or even vodka. Either would be great!
And the ginger beer? Well, that one’s a must. It sweetens up the drink and makes it “extra special” and so delicious. Plus it’s just my favorite…so please don’t skip it.
Have a wonderful Saturday everyone! See you all tomorrow for another Nine Favorite Things.
Looking for other summer drinks? Here are a few of my go-to’s.
Pink Vodka Watermelon Lemonade
Lastly, if you make this garden cherry bourbon smash, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Garden Cherry Bourbon Smash
Servings: 1
Calories Per Serving: 355 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 6 fresh or frozen cherries, pitted
- 4 basil leaves, plus a sprig for serving
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- juice from half of a lemon
- 1 1/2 ounces bourbon
- 1/2 ounce Cointreau
- 1-2 teaspoons white wine vinegar, using to your taste
- ginger beer, for topping
Ginger Sugar (optional)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons fresh grated ginger (or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger)
- 2 teaspoons fresh chopped thyme
Instructions
- 1. To make the ginger sugar. Combine the sugar, ginger, and thyme on a shallow plate. Rim your glasses in sugar, then fill with ice.2. In a cocktail shaker or glass jar, muddle the cherries, basil, thyme, and lemon juice, squashing everything to release the juices. Add the bourbon, Cointreau, and vinegar. Fill with ice and shake until combined.2. Strain into prepared glasses. Top off with ginger beer, then gently stir to combine. Finish with basil and a cherry on top. Enjoy.
Notes
If You Don't like Bourbon: use tequila!
To Make a Mocktail: omit the vodka and add 1 additional tablespoon lemon juice and 1 additional teaspoon apple cider vinegar.
Garden Cherry Bourbon Smash Punch
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 200 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup fresh or frozen cherries, plus more for serving
- 3/4 cup fresh basil leaves
- juice from 2 lemons (about 1/2 cup)
- 6 ounces (3/4 cup) bourbon
- 4 ounces (1/4 cup) Cointreau
- 3-4 tablespoons white wine vinegar, using to your taste
- 3-4 (12 ounce) ginger beers, for topping
Ginger Sugar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons fresh grated ginger (or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger)
- 2 teaspoons fresh chopped thyme
Instructions
- 1. In a pitcher, muddle the cherries, basil, and lemon juice, squashing everything to release the juices. Add the bourbon, Cointreau, and vinegar. Stir to combine. Chill until ready to serve.2. To make the ginger sugar. Combine the sugar, ginger, and thyme on a shallow plate. Rim your glasses in sugar, then fill with ice.3. Strain into prepared glasses. Top off with ginger beer, then gently stir to combine. Finish with basil and a cherry on top. Enjoy.
Notes
If You Don't like Bourbon: use tequila!
To Make a Mocktail: omit the vodka and add 1 additional tablespoon lemon juice and 1 additional teaspoon apple cider vinegar.
The recipe calls for white wine vinegar but the notes say apple cider vinegar, which is preferred? And curious, what role does the vinegar play in the cocktail? Thanks!
Hey Susan,
The white wine vinegar is what the recipe calls for, if you are making a mocktail you’ll add the apple cider vinegar:) The vinegar just adds a punch to the cocktail. Let me know if you have any other questions! Cheers! xx
How would you make this for a crowd? Serve like a punch? Or do you have another recommendation?
Hi Catherine,
You bet, you can go ahead and follow the punch recipe listed above:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! Cheers! xx
This was loved by the whole family!
Hey Kale,
Wonderful! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed. Thanks a bunch for giving it a try! xTieghan
I made this with cherry jam because that’s what I had and it was AMAZING!
Hey Rebecca,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
I love all your glasses! Can you share where this highball glass is from? I’d love to buy a set!
Hey Ali,
Here is the link for the glasses:
https://rwguild.com/collections/tabletop_glassware/products/hiroshima-haruya-rock-glass-crown?variant=31558729007207
Let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Absolutely delicious! Didn’t have bourbon so I used Pendleton whiskey and it still turned out amazing! And I’m normally a vodka and tequila gal, not whiskey or bourbon or anything in that family haha!
I am really glad you enjoyed this one! Thank you Kaley! xTieghan
Hello, Tieghan!! I’m curious, if I wanted to prepare this for a socially distanced picnic, would you still recommend to premix and let sit in the refrigerator until serving (even for an hour or so)? Or do you think it would work better for the flavors to muddle in a mason jar, and then add alcohol on site? Thanks so much! I basically only use your books and blogs for cooking ?
Hey Emily,
Thanks so much for your kind message! I would do the second option, make everything ahead of time and then add the alcohol on site. Sounds like a fun time! xTieghan
Amazing flavor! I highly recommend. Made it more than once, used fresh cherries and also tried frozen berries; both were equally delicious.
Thank you Maria!! I am so happy to hear that! xTieghan
This has been my and my husband’s favorite new summer drink! It’s refreshing and smooth and worth every step needed to make it!
Thank you so much Tina!! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
This is now our favorite summer cocktail. The fresh herbs in the drink and the ginger sugar for the rim make for spectacular flavor. (I admit, we skipped the vinegar and only added extra lemon juice to taste.) And it makes an exciting mocktail as well. Highly recommend.
Thank you so much Elizabeth!! I am so glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Would this work well with Rainier cherries too or should they be just regular red cherries?
Hey Emily,
Rainier cherries would be great! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I’ve been making a signature cocktail each holiday. This is the first one anyone has wanted more than one of. 🙂 It’s beautiful and delicious! Definitely making this again. Like, tomorrow.
Haha love that!! Thank you so much for trying this Mindy! xTieghan
Hello, how far in advance can this be made? Want to make ahead for a camping trip. Thanks!
Totally delicious! We did not have any thyme but they still turned out very tasty. A fresh and zingy drink. I’m sure the mocktail version would also be good.
Thank you so much Holly! xTieghan