If you’re still garnishing your cocktails with a bright red maraschino cherry from a jar, STOP THAT NONSENSE IMMEDIATELY. One taste of these homemade vanilla bourbon cocktail cherries and you’ll be an instant convert. They cost a fraction of the cost of the pricey Luxardo cherries that I love so much and are. so. good. Like, eat them straight from the jar, put them in every drink, good.

Homemade cocktail cherries are best made from fresh cherries with the pits removed, but since it’s winter, we’re mixing these up using frozen cherries.

The cherries are thawed, then put in sterile jars with a syrup made of vanilla, sugar, and the secret ingredient – a little Oak & Eden Bourbon & Spire.

If you’ve never heard of Oak & Eden, it’s a Texas-based whiskey producer that makes the world’s first (and only) in-bottle finished whiskey. It’s easy to spot on the shelves of your local liquor store – just look for the bottle with the toasted American Oak spire in it. The result is a deep, spicy flavor with vanilla and honey notes that make these cherries oh-so-delicious. It’s an amazing buy at only $35-40 a bottle.

Drop a vanilla bourbon cocktail cherry into a glass of champagne for a sparkling surprise (add an extra shot of Bourbon & Spire for a more bourbon-forward version) or use in your favorite Old Fashioned recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 12 oz bag of frozen cherries
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup Bourbon

DIRECTIONS

1. Thaw cherries in a mesh strainer over a bowl, catching the juice that falls as the cherries thaw.
2. Heat the water and sugar over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar has dissolved. Add in juice from thawed cherries for extra flavor!
3. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Let the mixture come to room temperature. You should have about 3/4 cup vanilla simple syrup at this point. Set aside.
4. Fill clean jars with thawed cherries, leaving about 1/2″ headspace at the top. You want them tightly packed, but not squished. Note: If the cherries are not completely thawed, they will turn mushy when you pour the syrup over them. Thaw completely!
5. To each jar, add equal parts vanilla simple syrup and bourbon until the cherries are covered. You may have extra simple syrup left over – and that’s okay. Use it in a vanilla Old Fashioned or Spiked Champagne Cocktail.
6. Place a lid on the jars and store in the refrigerator a few days before using, to allow flavors to meld. These vanilla bourbon cocktail cherries will stay good at room temp for up to 3 months, or in the refrigerator for up to a year so long as the cherries stay covered (top with more bourbon if needed). If giving as gifts, consider using canning methods so cherries stay good at room temp for longer.

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