Bourbon Cherry Cooler

It’s official, summer has arrived! Time to break out the cherries and the lemonade. Oh, and don’t forget the bourbon (that’s a given). This past weekend I mixed up a celebratory summer cocktail using some cherries from the farmer’s market. I think I forgot just how amazing fresh cherry juice is, because let me tell you, it doesn’t get much better than kicking back with one of these on a hot summer’s day. Luckily, it’s just the beginning . . .

Bourbon Cherry Cooler

A bourbon cocktail with bright, fresh cherry flavor. Easy summer sipping!

Servings: 1 cocktail

INGREDIENTS

• 2 oz bourbon
• 1/2 oz Aperol
• 1 oz lemon juice
• 3/4 oz simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water)
• 2 oz sparkling water
• 8 cherries

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Start with a handful of ripe summer cherries. I used eight, as I wanted bright, cherry-forward flavor.
2. Next, de-stem and pit the cherries and add them to a shaker. Combine with the simple syrup and muddle until the cherries are thoroughly crushed.
3. Add the lemon juice, Aperol, and bourbon. Fill your shaker with ice, and shake for a full 10 seconds.
4. Strain into a tall glass over new ice and top with sparkling water. Add a straw and a sprig of fresh mint

(images by HonestlyYUM)