Cherry Smash Cocktail

One of my favorite classic drinks is the Old-Fashioned. I grew up in Wisconsin, where the Old-Fashioned is the unofficial state drink. It’s pretty much all my mom ever ordered, and our house always had a bottle of Canadian Club at the ready.

I tend to associate the Old-Fashioned with winter and old school Wisconsin wood-paneled bars, so a hot, humid summer doesn’t seem like the best time to enjoy one. When I happened to have some whiskey on hand recently, though, I I decided to do a little experimenting.

That’s how I came up with this Cherry Smash Cocktail.

My Cherry Smash Cocktail has some of the qualities of an Old-Fashioned (the cherries … the whiskey … the orange garnish!), but it’s lighter and fresher tasting.

It’s also fun and easy to make with just a few ingredients. I think I found my new summer drink!

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Cherry Smash Cocktail

Prep Time

5 mins

Total Time

5 mins

 

Relax with a refreshing Cherry Smash Cocktail!

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Servings: 1 drink

Calories: 204 kcal

Ingredients

• 5 cherries pitted
• 1 slice orange
• 2 tsp. superfine sugar
• 2 sprigs thyme
• 2 oz. whiskey
• 5 oz. club soda

Instructions

1. Place 3 cherries, 1/2 of the orange slice, sugar, and 1 thyme sprig in the bottom of a tall glass.
   
2. Use a muddler (or the end of a wooden spoon) to smash cherries and other ingredients.
   
3. Add whiskey to glass and stir well.
4. Fill glass with ice.
   
5. Add club soda to glass and stir.
   
6. Garnish cocktail with remaining fruit and thyme sprig.

Notes

- I used rye whiskey, but any type will work. - When muddling, avoid completely pulverizing the ingredients. Just give them a good smash (hence the name) to bring out the flavors. - Here's how to pit a cherry without a special pitter.

This Cherry Smash Cocktail is the perfect way to showcase fresh summer berries!

Do you have a favorite cocktail?