RYE Whiskey Sours WITH Homemade Cocktail Cherries
- 15m Prep Time
- 5m Cook Time
- 20m Ready In
A wintery twist on a classic whiskey sour, using rye whiskey and syrup from homemade cocktail cherries for a less sweet, spicy-sour cocktail. The cherries are made from fresh or frozen sour cherries and can be prepared in advance.
Ingredients
- 1 cup American rye whiskey
- syrup from Homemade Cocktail Cherries
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed Meyer lemon juice
- Homemade Cocktail Cherries
- 2 orange slices halved
Nutrition (per serving, estimated)
Estimated based off 2 of 5 identified ingredients (per 100 g food data, scaled by amount).
Vitamins & minerals
- Calcium: 1.83 mg
- Iron: 0.05 mg
- Magnesium: 1.83 mg
- Phosphorus: 5.99 mg
- Potassium: 32.6 mg
- Zinc: 0.04 mg
Let's Prepare
Collect
Gather these ingredients — no prep needed yet.
- 1 cup American rye whiskey
- syrup from Homemade Cocktail Cherries
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed Meyer lemon juice
- Homemade Cocktail Cherries
Prepare
- Halve 2 orange slices
Let's Cook
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Step 1.
To make the cocktail cherries, combine 1 pound fresh or frozen sour cherries (pitted or not), 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, a 2-inch strip of lemon zest, and a pinch of kosher salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
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Step 2.
Remove the pan from the heat and discard the lemon zest strip. Stir in ¼ cup bourbon, rye, or other whiskey (optional). Divide the cherries among three half-pint jars, then pour the cooking liquid into each jar until it reaches ½ inch below the rim. Clean the rims, seal with lids, and refrigerate until chilled. The cherries are ready to use in cocktails and will keep for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
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Step 3.
To make the whiskey sours, fill a large cocktail shaker with ice. Add 1 cup American rye whiskey, 4 to 5 tablespoons syrup from the Homemade Cocktail Cherries (or 2 teaspoons superfine sugar), and ¼ cup freshly squeezed Meyer lemon juice (from about 1 large lemon). Shake hard for a full 30 seconds.
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Step 4.
Fill 2 highball glasses or 4 lowball glasses with ice. Strain the cocktail mixture over the ice. For each glass, thread 2 Homemade Cocktail Cherries onto a cocktail skewer, then add a halved orange slice (¼-inch-thick), then a third cherry. Serve immediately.