This insanely simple cocktail recipe is how Cam used to make a boozy cherry limeade for his patrons back in his bartending days. Since no home bar is really complete without a jar of Luxardo cherries, you really should have most of the ingredients on hand already.
Background
Our go-to cocktail at the house is usually a Ranch Water. Just some decent Reposado tequila, freshly squeezed limes and a bottle of Topo Chico. It’s crisp, refreshing and will ALWAYS be better than the pre-made canned versions that keep popping up all over the place.
One day, we were having a little at-home happy hour making our usual Ranch Water. I noticed that Cam had the jar of Luxardo cherries out and a light bulb went off…..I added a generous spoonful of the Luxardo cherry juice and stirred it into the Ranch Water. I was immediately taken back to the good old days….sitting in my ‘94 Jeep Grand Cherokee with my high school friends sipping on some Sonic Route 44 Cherry Limeades. I’d be lying if I said I had never poured booze into a Sonic drink, FYI. Don’t judge.
While it’s a pretty fantastic addition to a Ranch Water, we found that we prefer to use Tito’s (or any other mid-tier Vodka). This cuts the cost way down and puts the emphasis where it should be, the cherry and the lime.
Notes
- Lime Juice: We prefer to use freshly squeezed juice whenever possible. There’s simply no substitute. That being said, we know it’s way more convenient to buy a pint of freshly squeezed from the local grocery. Or if you’re really in a pinch, you can try using an organic bottled juice from Santa Cruz. Just make sure it’s 100% lime juice and nothing else.
- Topo Chico: There’s simply no greater sparkling water out there. Someone prove me wrong. No, but seriously, Topo Chico always comes through with the biggest, most concentrated, longest lasting bubbles. I don’t know how they do it, but everything else just falls short. Yes, club soda will work fine, just not quite the same.
- Vodka: We really only buy Tito’s. Are there better vodkas out there? Yes. Could you use a cherry-flavored vodka? I suppose. We just don’t have any complaints about Tito’s. It’s a good vodka at a good price and it’s generally well-respected in a variety of applications (did someone say Dirty Martini’s? No? Just Me?).
Recipe
Boozy Cherry Limeade
Follow this recipe for a delicious, boozy cherry limeade cocktail. This is just how Cam used to make them for some of his regulars back in his bartending days.
Ingredients
- 2oz Tito’s Vodka (or preferred brand)
- 3/4oz Fresh Lime Juice
- 1/2oz Luxardo Cherry Juice
- 1 12-ounce Bottle of Topo Chico, as Topper
- 2 Luxardo Cherries, as Garnish
- Lime Wedge, as Garnish
Directions
- Step 1 In a shaker tin, combine vodka, lime juice and cherry juice.
- Step 2 Add lots of ice, cap the shaker and shake vigorously for 20 seconds.
- Step 3 Pour contents of the entire shaker tin into a pint glass.
- Step 4 Add more ice, if desired, and top with Topo Chico. More ice = less carbonation and more concentrated flavors and alcohol presence. Less ice = more carbonation and less concentrated flavors and alcohol presence.
- Step 5 Garnish with a lime wedge and Luxardo Cherries.
- Step 6 Sit on the back porch and enjoy the sunset. Cheers!
About the Author
Lauren is a classically trained, professional chef. A culinary school graduate, she has spent time working organic farms in the Italian countryside and was the pastry/sous chef at a high profile restaurant in Dallas prior to becoming a full-time personal chef. Her cooking style is often referred to as “rustic.” Being a personal chef, she is not bound by a single type of cuisine and has had the opportunity to experiment with hundreds of regional recipes from all over the world.
