Name: Cherry Smash
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: US
Ingredients: 3 frozen cherries, for muddling; 1 dash Angostura bitters; 1 cup ice, or as needed; 2 fluid ounces rye whiskey (such as Michter's®); 1 fluid ounce sweet Italian vermouth; 0.5 fluid ounce simple syrup; 0.5 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste

Whiskey Drinks

Cherry Smash

Jul 15, 2025
by Abagail Cole
- 5.0 / 5 ( 2 Ratings)
1 Likes

PREP TIME

5 mins
COOK TIME

0 mins
TOTAL TIME

5 mins
SERVING

1 People
VIEWS

7

Transport yourself to a bygone era with this sophisticated Cherry Smash. This is a luscious blend of rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and muddled cherries, elevated with a dash of bitters and a hint of citrus. A modern twist on a retro classic, it's the perfect cocktail for slow sipping and elegant evenings.

Ingridients

Adjust Servings

3 frozen cherries, for muddling

1 dash Angostura bitters

1 cup ice, or as needed

2 fluid ounces rye whiskey (such as Michter's®)

1 fluid ounce sweet Italian vermouth

0.5 fluid ounce simple syrup

0.5 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste

Nutrition

Carbohydrate

18 g
Fiber

1 g
Protein

0 g
Sodium

11 mg
Sugar

5 g
Fat

0 g
Unsaturated Fat

0 g

Follow The Directions

01

Step

In an old-fashioned glass, place the frozen cherries and splash with Angostura bitters. (2 minutes)

02

Step

Using a cocktail muddler, gently mash the cherries to release their flavor, achieving your desired consistency. (3 minutes)

03

Step

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. (1 minute)

04

Step

Add the rye whiskey, sweet Italian vermouth, simple syrup, and lemon juice to the shaker. (1 minute)

05

Step

Cover the shaker tightly and shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is well-chilled and frosted. (5 minutes)

06

Step

Strain the cocktail into the old-fashioned glass, over the muddled cherries. (2 minutes)

07

Step

Garnish with a fresh cherry or a lemon twist (optional) and serve immediately.

For an extra layer of flavor, try using Luxardo cherries for muddling.
Adjust the amount of simple syrup and lemon juice to suit your personal preference.
If you don't have a cocktail shaker, you can use a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid.
Chilling your glass beforehand will keep your cocktail colder for longer.

Abagail Cole

Written by

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