Cherry limeade immediately takes me back to high school, and the very rare (for me) treat of getting to stop at Sonic and get some cheddar poppers and a cherry limeade when the school bus made a stop on the way home from a softball game. So this grown-up version of cherry limeade is the best kind of nostalgia.
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There’s a secret ingredient that makes this amazing. I have found the perfect liqueur companion in Luxardo’s Sangue Morlacco, and am deeply obsessed with its dark, sweet cherry flavor.
It’s made by fermenting the juice of marasca cherries, and the taste is what I’ve previously described as “the most intense cherry punch in the mouth you can imagine”. You can learn more at their website, the history and process is really interesting.
It’s also very versatile…no one-trick-pony here. It can make lots of delicious cocktails, so the bottle won’t just sit on the shelf (I recommend starting with a cherry lemonade).
Making this “hard” cherry limeade is actually crazy easy…in a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice, add the gin, cherry liqueur, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup. Then shake vigorously for at least 10-15 seconds.
Strain into a rocks glass filled with more ice (crushed or cubed). You can garnish with a lime wheel or maraschino cherry if you want, but I went more casual with this one.
To me, this is the perfect summer cocktail…uncomplicated, boozy, a little sweet, a little tart, and capturing the cherry essence of mid-summer. Plus that vibrant red makes it perfect for 4th of July!
Other refreshing summer cocktails you’ll love:
- Basil Gin Gimlet Cocktail
- Porto Tonico: Why You’ll Love the White Port & Tonic
- The Verdant Lady (Gin & Green Chartreuse Cocktail)
- “River Boyne Fizz” Irish Whiskey Cocktail
- A Refreshing Basil Gin Smash Cocktail
Hard Cherry Limeade
You can also make this as a smaller “fancy” cocktail and basically halve the ingredients, then pour in a small coupe glass without ice.
- 2 ounces of a good London Dry gin
- 1 ounce of Sangue Morlacco cherry liqueur
- 1 ounce of fresh lime juice
- Optional: 1/4 to 1/2 ounce of simple syrup (try it without and see if you need it)
- In a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice, add the gin, cherry liqueur, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake for 10-15 seconds, until well-chilled.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice (crushed or cubed). Garnish with lime wheel or maraschino cherry if desired.
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Summer Nostalgia: Cherry Limeade for Grown-Ups
This hard cherry limeade is the perfect summer nostalgia for those of us who grew up with Sonic cherry limeades...the grown-up cherry limeade (made with gin) that you need in your life!
Ingredients
- 2 ounces of a good London Dry gin
- 1 ounce of Sangue Morlacco cherry liqueur
- 1 ounce of fresh lime juice
- Optional: 1/4 to 1/2 ounce of simple syrup (try it without and see if you need it)
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice, add the gin, cherry liqueur, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup.
Shake for 10-15 seconds, until well-chilled. - Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice (crushed or cubed). Garnish with lime wheel or maraschino cherry if desired.
Notes
You can make this as a smaller "fancy" cocktail and basically halve the ingredients, pour in a small coupe glass without ice.
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