We say pretty please with a cherry on top to this nostalgic fizzy fusion.
About the cocktail
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from true crime podcasts, aside from never starting the day just like any other day, it’s that people love a mystery. Don’t get us wrong, we too love the allure of the unfamiliar – it prompts questions like ‘What’s a car-ah-jill-o’? (it’s 'carajillo', and it's pronounced ca-ra-hiyo, you’re welcome). That said, some of the best things in life do exactly what they say on the tin. For example: payday, meat pie, sunset, beer garden, Bourbon Cherry Cola. In fact, that last one is our latest fizzy obsession, and it would pair perfectly with any, or all, of the other examples. Like the Carajillo, bourbon and Coke is a simple two ingredient cocktail, the art of which lies in perfecting the ratios. And once mastered, it then becomes the ideal candidate for elevating with a twist (lemon, lime or whatever you like). Bourbon Cherry Cola goes the extra mile, fusing a natural, fruity take on Cherry Coke with the classic cocktail components to produce a sweet, fizzy fix that serves pangs of nostalgia and a hint of Christmas cheer. Bourbon Cherry Cola will speak to fans of the KISS principle. Our team has nailed the recipe ratios, the ingredients are easy to find, and you don’t even need a cocktail shaker. Speaking of ingredients, did you know the Australian cherry season lasts for just 100 days? This is fortuitous given that Bourbon Cherry Cola lends itself to summertime sipping, but if you want to enjoy it all year round, see our top tips below. Bourbon comes in a range of flavours and styles, but its signature lies in the sweetness of its rich, oaky vanilla and caramel notes. And when you pair it with a dash of fresh lemon juice and some homemade chic-a-cherry cola, then you’ve got yourself a drink that’ll even win over the premix crowd.
Watch: How to make a Bourbon Cherry Cola
Ingredients
3 pitted cherries 45mL bourbon 15mL fresh lemon juice 20mL sugar syrup 100mL Coca-Cola Glass: highball Garnish: extra cherry dusted with icing sugar
Method
Muddle cherries in the bottom of the glass Add all ingredients, except the Coca-Cola, and stir well Fill with cubed ice and add the cola Carefully stir to combine Garnish with a sugar-dusted cherry
Dan’s top tips
When choosing cherries, it’s best to use in-season Australian fruit. If fresh cherries aren’t available, then you can use tinned or jarred, but you will need to make adjustments to balance the sweet (sugar syrup) and sour (lemon juice) components. And, as always, good quality ingredients make for better cocktails. Speaking of quality, you’ll want to keep this in mind when selecting a bourbon. Just because you’re mixing the spirit doesn’t mean it should be a lesser bourbon. Choose something you’d be happy to enjoy on its own, and if you’re not sure about brands, scroll down, or ask a mate or the friendly team in-store.
Member Offer
$50 per bottle Non-Member: $58.99 each
image credits: Shelley Horan (photography), Raye Scerri (videography), Bridget Wald (styling), LSS (production)
