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    Home » Cocktail » Cherry Infused Bourbon

    Cherry Infused Bourbon

    Last updated on February 25, 2020. Originally posted on July 25, 2019 By Elaine 12 Comments

    411 shares
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    Cherry Infused Bourbon for Pinterest

    This cherry infused bourbon recipe is fun for a couple of reasons: cherries and bourbon. They complement each other most tastefully and infusing is easier than you might think.

    Bourbon that has been infused with cherries in a jar on a black table

    Cherries and bourbon go very well together. My favorite cocktail at the moment is the bourbon Manhattan. I find that cherry mellows bourbon and gives it a lovely flavor.

    I’ve since made a cherry Manhattan that I think you will enjoy.

    So you see, cherries and bourbon are a match made in heaven. But the cherry season is short, so start early and stockpile cherries in the freezer if you need to.

    This post may contain affiliate links, which means I get a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you click the link and buy something. You can read my disclosure here.

    Helpful tips

    • Wash the jar with hot soapy water before using it, but you don’t have to sterilize it.
    • Wash the cherries by adding unscented hand soap to your hands and rubbing them over the cherries a handful at a time. Then place them in a sieve and running cold water over the cherries.
    • You can make as much cherry bourbon as you like, rule of thumb is fill whatever size jar you want halfway with the sliced cherries, and fill the rest of the jar with bourbon.
    • Use the best bourbon you can afford as I do think you can taste the difference.
    • After five days of infusing the liquor, when you separate the cherries from the bourbon, do not eat them. Rather, if you want to eat bourbon-flavored cherries, make my bourbon soaked cherries recipe. (Cherries in this recipe are sliced; bourbon-soaked cherries are kept whole, which retains their flavor.)
    • You can store the final infusion on the shelf with the rest of your spirits; it doesn’t need refrigeration.

    How to make infused bourbon

    Step one

    Gather the ingredients – cherries, bourbon and a jar.

    Cherries in a measuring cup, bourbon and a jar on a black table

    Step two

    Wash, pit and slice the cherries in half and place them in the jar. You should end up with around 2.5 cups of cherries, after they’re sliced.

    Pitted and halved cherries in a jar for the cherry bourbon

    Step three

    Pouring bourbon over the cherries, fill your jar to the top.

    Bourbon poured into the jar to make the cherry bourbon there is a bottle of bourbon in the background

    Step four

    Cap and let sit on the counter for 5 days. Gently shake the jar every day.

    The infused bourbon after 5 days sitting on the counter

    Notice how dark it looks. The bourbon leeched all the flavor and much of the color out of the sliced cherries.

    Step five

    Place a sieve in or over a big bowl. Carefully pour the contents of the jar through the sieve.

    Cherries in a sieve over a bowl of the infused bourbon

    As you can see, the cherries have lost their color, and I suggest that you don’t eat them. Trust me, they don’t taste like cherries anymore.

    Here is the cherry infused bourbon in the jar, ready to be mixed into a cocktail.

    It would also be great in my bourbon meatballs appetizer recipe. or as I stated above, the cherry Manhattan.

    I remade this infused bourbon in a bigger jar. This one is 64 ounces but as you can see, I didn’t fill it all the way.

    64 ounce jar with bourbon and cherries floating in it

    Here it is bottled!

    A bottle of bourbon flavored with cherries on a black table

    I hope you enjoyed this cherry infused bourbon recipe.

    And as always, may all your dishes/drinks be delish.

    Other popular infusions

    • Cherry vodka
    • Watermelon vodka
    • Jalapeño tequila
    • Cranberry vodka

    If you’ve tried this recipe, I’d love the know what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!

    A jar of cherry infused bourbon - square

    Cherry Infused Bourbon

    Cherry and bourbon flavors meld so well together, your future cocktails will thank you for making this recipe.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Cocktails
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: cherry infused bourbon, cherry infusions, infused bourbon
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 3 cups
    Calories: 125kcal
    Author: Elaine Benoit

    Ingredients

    • 2.5 cups cherries (washed, pitted and sliced)
    • 3 cups bourbon (approximately just pour over the cherries to the top of the jar)

    Instructions

    • Wash the jar with hot soapy water and dry well
    • Wash cherries (see notes), pit and slice each one in half
    • Add cherries to jar and pour bourbon over the cherries to the top of the jar
    • Cap and set on the counter for 5 days. Shake once, every day
    • Make a cocktail
    • Sip
    • Smile
    • Enjoy

    Equipment

    32 ounce jar
    cherry pitter
    See all my favorite tools and gift ideas at my Amazon Store page!Check out Elaine’s Amazon Store!

    Notes

    I am not adding the five days to the time in this recipe that the bourbon takes to infuse with the cherries.
    Helpful tips
    • Wash the jar with hot soapy water before using it, but you don’t have to sterilize it.
    • Wash the cherries by adding unscented hand soap to your hands and rubbing them over the cherries a handful at a time. Then place them in a sieve and running cold water over the cherries.
    • You can make as much cherry bourbon as you like, rule of thumb is fill whatever size jar you want halfway with the sliced cherries, and fill the rest of the jar with bourbon.
    • Use the best bourbon you can afford as I do think you can taste the difference.
    • After five days of infusing the liquor, when you separate the cherries from the bourbon, do not eat them. Rather, if you want to eat bourbon-flavored cherries, make my bourbon soaked cherries recipe. (Cherries in this recipe are sliced; bourbon-soaked cherries are kept whole, which retains their flavor.)
    • You can store the final infusion on the shelf with the rest of your spirits; it doesn’t need refrigeration.
    •  

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2ounces | Calories: 125kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 255mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 75IU | Vitamin C: 8.1mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 0.5mg
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    411 shares

    This post may contain affiliate links, which means I get a small commission, at no additional cost to you,  if you click the link and buy. You can read my disclosure here.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Evelyne

      July 25, 2019 at 6:41 pm

      OK one of my favorite fruits and booze. So good! I actually get in the US the moonshine makes that has cherries in it, but this is way better!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        July 26, 2019 at 1:36 pm

        I think it’s my favorite combo too Evelyne! I think I’ve seen that moonshine too!

        Reply
    2. Sara Welch

      July 25, 2019 at 6:54 pm

      What a cool recipe! I will have to make this so I can give that Bourbon Manhattan a try!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        July 26, 2019 at 1:37 pm

        I hope you enjoy it Sara! It’s a great combo!

        Reply
    3. Sophia

      July 25, 2019 at 6:56 pm

      This looks so, so good! I can’t wait to try it! Bourbon drinks are my favorite, and you sold me at cherry bourbon Manhattan! Just pinned!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        July 26, 2019 at 1:37 pm

        Yay! Thanks Sophia! I appreciate it. Hope you enjoy it when you do try it.

        Reply
    4. Tilly

      July 25, 2019 at 8:02 pm

      I’m all about everything cherry atm, especially this bourbon!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        July 26, 2019 at 1:37 pm

        Hehe. 🙂 Me too Tilly!

        Reply
    5. Sylvie

      July 25, 2019 at 9:08 pm

      Such an easy and delicious way to infuse alcohol, I can imagine so many ways to use it too… make a reduction with it and use it as a sauce over ice cream maybe? Yum!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        July 26, 2019 at 1:38 pm

        Ohh, yes it’s awesome over ice cream! Thanks Sylvie!

        Reply
    6. Amy

      January 09, 2021 at 3:59 pm

      I love the idea, but I’m wondering if the cherries are sweet or tart. Can frozen cherries be used when thawed?

      Reply
      • Elaine

        January 10, 2021 at 12:19 pm

        Amy, the cherries I use are sweet – bing cherries. I have frozen cherries that I get from Trader Joes which work out well too. I only use them when I didn’t plan well for the year and fresh cherries aren’t available. Make sure to totally defrost and rinse off any ‘juice’. 🙂 Good luck.

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Elaine! I'm so glad you stopped by. Here you will find lots of tasty cocktails, comforting food and inspiration for your next meal. I LOVE chocolate, almost all foods, blogging, photography and spending time with my hubby!

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    411 shares