Ingredients
- 12 to 15 pitted fresh cherries
- 4 or 5 tablespoons sugar
- 1 lime (cut into 6 wedges)
- Vodka (about 4oz.)
- Ice
- Fresh mint (optional)
- Cocktail straws (to serve)
Instructions
- Divide cherries and sugar between two glasses. Add two wedges of  lime to each, (and mint if using) and, with a muddler, start crushing the fruit with the sugar, until it becomes syrupy. Do this slowly and take your time. It's the base of the drink.
- Add ice to almost fill the glass, and then pour about 2 oz. vodka in each glass.
- Stir, decorate with a mint sprig or lime wedge, and serve.
Notes
- Ice: I use regular ice from my home freezer. But if you have access to more professional larger ice cubes so much the better. They last more so the drink takes longer to water down.
- Glasses: use glasses that can hold everything and have a flat base. You need it to muddle without breaking it (seriously, it almost happened to me once). Don’t use martini glasses for example.
- Fruit: you can use other fruits, but sweet in-season cherries are wonderful. Be careful not to add too much. Test it with one drink. You should taste both the fruits and the liquor. If you use too much fruit you won’t have enough space for the ice and the balance will not be right.
- Personal taste: adjust sugar, ice, and vodka to your taste (image below, before adding the liquor). And use that ratio as a guide no matter what fruit you use.
- Sweetener:Â you can use simple syrup instead of the sugar. To make it, simply heat the same amount of sugar and water (1/2 cup of each for example), and when it comes to a boil remove it from the heat. Let cool completely and keep refrigerated.
- This is the homemade way of making this drink. If you have a cocktail shaker, use it to mix the muddled fruit with the vodka and the ice.
- Prep Time: 20
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: International