The Cherry Blossom Cocktail

For all you bourbon lovers looking for a new cocktail, here is one! It's a vibrant, stout, yet refreshing, flavor-layered drink that plays to all the notes of the bourbon.

But I'm not finished, and this step is optional...I infuse the bourbon with mashed fresh cherries, in a glass container, a cool dark place, for only 2 days. Strain and you have a sultry elixir to enjoy in so many ways. (To strain, I use a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth for silkiest result.). There are many bourbons to choose from, here I use Elijah Craig, for it's spicy overtones.

Yield: One cocktail

INGREDIENTS:

2-3 drops of Angostura Orange Bitters

2 ounces of Elijah Craig cherry-soaked bourbon (soaking optional, use EC or your bourbon of choice)

1 ounce simple syrup

1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon maraschino cherry juice (yes, juice from those old school bright red ones!)

1 1/2 ounces club soda, or another unsweetened sparkling soda (not tonic water)

In a large rocks glass, add in the orange bitters. Add the bourbon, simple syrup, and lemon juice. Stir well and add ice. Add in the soda, and stir a final time. Gently pour in the teaspoon of cherry juice on top of the cocktail. Watch as it settles to the bottom of the glass.

This drink has garnered rave reviews from my bourbon loving friends, I hope you'll try it. And stay tuned for other ideas for using the cherry bourbon, there are lots of them!