The Cherry Manhattan

Summer is officially here and with Canada Day happening this weekend, there is lots to celebrate!

Cherry season is in full swing in the Okanagan, and it is one of my favourite times of the year. How lucky am I to be able to get just-picked, sweet and sour cherries right from my own backyard? Okay, more like my neighbors yard considering I live in an apartment..

Even without my own cherry tree, I find myself having more cherries that I know what to do with at this time of year, so of course I had to use a few of these little beauties in some cocktails!

One of my favourite drinks on a night out is the Manhattan - they are bold yet sweet, not to mention you look classy as heck drinking these at dinner (cue the Mad Men montage).

This cocktail uses cherry simple syrup and traditional Vermouth instead of sweet, because the simple syrup is sweet enough!

The Kentucky Bourbon adds a certain robustness and a nice smokiness, which balances this cocktail out perfectly.

How will you be celebrating the Canada Day long weekend? Hopefully with a cocktail or two!

The Cherry Manhattan
Per Cocktail

2 oz Bourbon
1 oz Vermouth
1/2 oz Cherry Simple Syrup
1 Orange Peel (for zest and garnish)

1 Fresh Cherry, pitted (or Maraschino Cherry) for garnish

2-3 Dashes Angostura Bitters

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add Bourbon, Vermouth, and Cherry Simple Syrup. Twist the orange peel over a short or martini glass then add the peel and the cherry to the glass. Shake and strain the contents of the shaker over the orange peel and cherry and finish with a couple dashes of the Angostura bitters.