Put a cherry on top (and in) your cocktail this season.
In Michigan, prime cherry picking spans from early July to mid-August, with Traverse City hosting the celebrated National Cherry Festival from June 29 to July 6, 2024, amid iconic cherry orchards. Given Michigan’s significance to the Fox & Oden whiskey process, pairing Michigan cherries with our whiskey feels like a natural choice.
Cherry juice is the queen of cocktail mixers, serving up sweetness or tartness to suit your taste. You can muddle it in, pour in cherry juice or syrup, or simply add a cherry as the quintessential garnish to your whiskey cocktail, a la the classic Old Fashioned. Cherry subtly mellows whiskey’s edge without overpowering its flavor or making the drink overly sweet, striking the perfect balance.
Below, we’ve compiled some of our favorite cherry cocktails just in time for summer and cherry picking season.
Rye, Meet Cherry
The sweetness of the cherry liqueur and the vermouth melts into the spiciness of the rye whiskey.
- 1 oz Fox & Oden Rye Whiskey
- .5 oz brandy
- 1 oz sweet red vermouth
- .5 oz cherry liqueur
- Black cherry, garnish
In a cocktail shaker with ice, shake Fox & Oden Rye whiskey with brandy, red vermouth, and cherry liqueur until just mixed. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a black cherry.
Blood Cherry Cocktail
A dark and brooding , yet sweet, cherry cocktail
- 2 oz Fox & Oden Rye Whiskey
- 1 oz Thatcher’s Organic Blood Orange Liqueur
- 2 oz sweetened cranberry juice
- 4 oz cherry juice
- 2 oz whipped cream, garnish
- 2 black cherries, garnish
In a cocktail shaker with ice add all the ingredients, save for the garnishes. Seal and shake until thoroughly mixed. Strain into two highball glasses. For the garnish, place a spoonful (one ounce) of whipped cream on top of the cocktail, followed by the black cherry.
Cherry Whiskey Sour
Savor the quintessential whiskey sour, now with a summer cherry twist.
- 2.5 oz Fox & Oden Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- .75 oz lemon juice
- .5 oz simple syrup
- 1 tsp cherry juice or jam
- 1 egg white
Combine Fox & Oden bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and cherry juice in a cocktail shaker with 5-6 cubes of ice. Shake well until combined. Strain out the ice and return the cocktail to the cocktail shaker without ice. Add egg white and shake as vigorously as possible for an entire minute to build foam. Pour slowly into a coupe glass.
Recipe via Southern Fatty. Find the full Cherry Whiskey Sour recipe and instructions here.
Cola Cherry Whiskey
Sweet, simple, and just the right amount of nostalgia.
- 2 oz Fox & Oden Rye Whiskey
- 2 sweet cherries
- .5 oz cherry liqueur
- 6 oz dark cola
- .25 oz lime juice
- Lime wedge, garnish
In a highball glass with ice, pour in cherry liqueur, Fox & Oden Whiskey, and dark cola. Stir and add in lime juice. Stir one last time and garnish with a lime wedge.
Cherry Whiskey Smash
Although a simple cocktail to make, fresh ingredients will make this cherry cocktail truly wonderful.
- 1 oz Fox & Oden Rye Whiskey
- .5 oz simple syrup
- .5 oz fresh cherry juice
- 3 fresh cherries pitted
- 6 fresh mint leaves + more for garnish
- Lemon wedge
- Fresh cherries, garnish
- Mint sprigs, garnish
In a shaker, add simple syrup, fresh cherry juice, cherries, mint leaves, and lemon wedge. Muddle until the lemon wedge is broken down. Add Fox & Oden whiskey and fill the shaker with ice. Stir to combine. Fill a rocks glass with ice and strain the cocktail into the glass. Garnish with additional cherries and mint sprigs.
Recipe via Cake n Knife. Find the full Cherry Whiskey Smash recipe and instructions here.
Which cherry cocktail are you reaching for? Whether sipping a dark and tart cherry cocktail or a classic cherry smash, enjoy with a whiskey made for the heartland. Purchase Fox & Oden spirits at our tasting rooms or a retailer near you. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on the latest from Fox & Oden. Remember to enjoy and drink your whiskey responsibly.
