Put a Cherry On It

Recipe

1.5oz high proof rye whiskey
.25oz Cherry Angostura syrup (adjust up to .5oz to taste) – see recipe below
2 generous dashes cherry bark vanilla bitters
Couple drops (or spray) of absinthe

Swirl the absinthe (or use an atomizer) into an ice cold glass. Stir all ingredients with ice, and strain into the glass. Add a brandied cherry.

This drink is somewhat of a cross between a sazerac and a Manhattan. It’s spirit-forward and complex with a lush cherry jamminess.

Let’s talk about the specific ingredients here:

Dancing Goat Distillery Limousin Rye: this is a unique high proof (47%) rye whiskey made in Wisconsin that’s spent time in new oak, used oak, and most notably, French limousin oak. Compared to American white oak (used for most American whiskies), oak from the Limousin region of France tends to lend more complex flavors to a spirit, which can make it taste “lighter” with less of the heavy “oak-y” wood/vanilla/caramel influence. Limousin is traditionally used for aging French brandies such as Cognac.

Sticking to Wisconsin products, I used some of my fav bitters from Bittercube: Cherry Bark Vanilla. The name is a bit deceiving as it’s not actually cherry-like in flavor, but instead has rich warm woody tones, described as vanilla, fennel, bitter almonds, cocoa, and star anise. I’ll just say that it works miraculously with all aged spirits.

Cherry Angostura syrup: this is a super easy homemade syrup made in the same way as grenadine. I used a natural tart cherry juice instead of pomegranate juice, heated it with equal parts of sugar, and added a few dashes of Angostura bitters instead of orange flower water to finish. With a teaspoon of vodka, it should last you at least a few months in the fridge.

Finally, Trader Joe’s pitted Amarena cherries: These retail for only ~$4 for 30 cherries. It tastes like a more complex and richer (neon) maraschino cherry. It’s satisfying and tasty, though not quite the same level as Luxardo or Fabbri. But at that price? For a home bartender, it’ll do and will definitely work when serving a crowd.