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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.
This is absolutely my new favorite cocktail. I had never bought ginger beer, because I thought it didn’t come in a diet version, but I was wrong. So, I’ve had this cocktail for the last several nights. So delicious. So pretty. So refreshing. I personally like it with a little less vinegar, like, one teaspoon plus whatever dribbles over the spoon., extra. I’d post my photo, but it looks exactly like Tieghan’s.
Love that!! Thank you so much Sandy! xTieghan
Very good! Especially love the sugar rim.
Thank you Cait! xTieghan
Such a delicious drink! Was sweet but not too much that it tasted like dessert. I will be making this throughout the summer. Loved it!
Thank you so much Bhavna!! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Thanks for sharing a mocktail option! I mean I love cocktails – but have to have hold since I’m pregnant! This gives me something to drink other than water 😉
Well I am so glad you could still enjoy this one! I hope everything is going amazing for you, Jessica! xTieghan
another beautify, a cherry red one at that! love this very smashy smash, thank you!
Thank you!! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
This cocktail is amazing! Usef frozen cherries and didn’t have basil so used mint instead. Will definitely be making this over and over again. Thank you for another amazing recipe!
Amazing!! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
I always love the creativity in your cocktail recipes. I had this yesterday ( a few times ;). The first time, I did exactly as you said and the vinegar was WAY too overpowering. The second time, I pulled out a large glass, halved the vinear and increased the liquor to 2 oz each and added more ginger beer. Much better. But I could still taste the vinegar – and it was vinegary not just a tang. When I make it again, I’ll likely just omit it and maybe add more lemon.
Loved the basil with teh thyme and ginger beer to make the whole thing spicy. Incidently my fav ginger beer is Fever Tree. I went on a dark n stormy kick last fall and literally bought the types of ginger beer I could find (including TJs holiday ginger beer). Fever tree was the most spicey and least overly sweet.
Thank you so much Jo! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
This recipe is great – however, just need to point out that in your narrative you mention apple cider vinegar but in your recipe you have white wine vinegar (which is what I used, and FYI it was fine) and then in your ‘make a mocktail’ section you say remove the vodka (there is none, of course) and reference the apple cider vinegar. Just some basic housekeeping…BUT. This drink is delicious – and whatever your vinegar is supposed to be I can attest to the white wine vinegar being a fine substitute and my husband and I enjoyed a little heavier pour on the bourbon, which worked for us because we love bourbon and it cut out a bit of the sweetness. Also, we did not do the sugar bit so can’t comment on that.
Hi Kendra! I am really sorry about that! It is supposed to be white wine vinegar and I will make sure to correct the rest! I am really glad you enjoyed this one! xTieghan
I made this, but with a few modifications! First of all, I didn’t have cherries, but I did have peaches. And I was thinking…peaches, bourbon…that could be a win! Also, I used apple cider vinegar (I didn’t have white wine vinegar on hand). Then I topped it off with a few dashes of cherry bitters before adding the ginger beer to give a nod to the original cherry flavor it was supposed to have. Oh my gosh! So delicious! I was skeptical of putting vinegar in a cocktail, but it totally works!
I am SO glad you loved this one, Kelly!! Thank you so much! xTieghan
Perfect cocktail to enjoy on a summer evening. My only regret— not making the rimmer. Next time for sure!!
Yes!! I am really glad you enjoyed this one, Melissa! I hope you love it with the rim next time! xTieghan
Is it white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar? The ingredients say white wine but the post says apple cider
Hey Beata, so sorry for any confusion. You need white wine vinegar for the drink. Recipe is all fixed. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan
LOOKS GOOD!!! GOD BLESS!!!!!!!
Thank you Clare!! xTieghan
Love love love your recipes Tiegan!! Quick question …the recipe calls for white wine vinegar but the instructions say apple cider vinegar..which should it be? Happy Weekend!
HI Christine, so sorry for any confusion. You need white wine vinegar for the drink. Recipe is all fixed. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan
Good morning. This recipe seems to contain some errors. White wine vinegar is listed in the ingredients, but apple cider vinegar is mentioned in the instructions. In the Recipe Notes, vodka is mentioned when it should be bourbon. Otherwise, sounds delicious!
Hi Rebecca! It is all fixed! Thank you for letting me know! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan, I am wondering whether you use white wine vinegar (in the ingredients) or apple cider vinegar (in the instructions). Thank you! 🙂
Hey Caitlin! I use white wine vinegar, recipe has been fixed. Sorry about that! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan