I like whiskey and bourbon. I like to order an old fashioned.

I don’t always enjoying paying a bartender eight to ten dollars though.

Cherry season has come (and almost gone) here in the Pacific Northwest, so I thought I would try my hand at making my own cocktail cherries since we all know maraschino cherries are super gross.

Brandied Cherries:

2 lbs of red cherries

4 cups of drinkable brandy 

2 cups of sugar

2-4 sticks of cinnamon

4 cloves

4 allspice berries

Rinse the cherries in a colander. Remove the stem and pit the cherries. Place the cherries in a jar.

In a saucepan, heat the remaining ingredients on medium low heat until the sugar has dissolved completely. Pour the liquid over the cherries. Let the mixture come to room temperature (or ice bath it) then stick it in the back of your fridge for six weeks. You could alternatively water bath can it, but I am too lazy for that at this point. Although I might have considered it if I had gone cherry picking.

In six weeks, you’ll have perfect cocktail cherries, but I’ve also put them in a homemade chocolate chili ice cream. 

Old Fashioned:

1/2 -1 tsp of sugar

several dashes of Angostura Orange Bitters

1 tsp of club soda or water (optional)

1 brandied cherry

1 giant ice cube or sphere

1.5 ounces of Bulleit bourbon or whiskey

1 orange wedge or peel (optional)

Put the sugar, bitters, and water in a glass. Mix or muddle them together. I like to muddle in my cherry too at this point and it would be a fine place to throw in an orange peel or even lime for something crazy, but try it without muddling fruit for your first time so you know what it really tastes like. Add one big ice cube. This is important. It’s preferred to have one large ice cube, so there is less surface area to melt. The original teaspoon of liquid is going to get your flavors melded together, and now your ice cube will slowly melt and the extra liquid will open up the flavors of the Bulleit, but you don’t want lots of little ice cubes because they will just water down your drink. Lastly, pour the Bulleit over the top and enjoy!

Cheers!