This cherry vodka sour recipe is perfect for the spring and summer months. Made with my homemade cherry infused vodka and fresh sour mix, it is especially delicious and refreshing!
Doesn’t this photo make you want to grab one of the glasses and slurp the cherry vodka sour down in one go? Or is that just me?
Two stand-out characteristics that make most cocktails refreshing are the ice cold temperature and the zest of citrus.
This cocktail has both of those things going for it. It’s full of ice and it has a good amount of fresh lemon juice.
One sip of this delicious drink will have you thinking – cherry lemonade. Just remember that it has booze so sipping is suggested. 😉
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Helpful tips
- Usually sweet and sour mix is made of equal parts citrus and syrup, but I like a more tart cocktail so I always use ½ the simple syrup that other recipes typically call for.
- Make your own simple syrup as it saves you money and is so easy. Here’s how: add equal amounts of water and sugar to a saucepan. I usually do 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar. On medium heat, bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Let the syrup cool completely before using it in a cocktail.
- I say make it like this and taste it. If it isn’t sweet enough for you, add more by ½ ounce increments and taste after each one. But I’m thinking it is sweet enough.
- You can use any glassware. The tall glass is a Tom Collins glass, my glass of choice for this cocktail. The double old fashioned glass and coupe are fun options, too.
- Fresh fruit tastes best in cocktails, so whenever you can, squeeze the lemon juice yourself.
- You can make a big batch of this cocktail. Just double or triple the ingredients and mix it in a pitcher.
How to make the cherry vodka sour
Pre-step
Fill a cocktail shaker ¾ of the way with ice and get a measuring glass and glassware.
After measuring each ingredient below, pour it into your shaker.
Step one
Gather the ingredients – my much loved homemade cherry infused vodka, some fresh lemons, and simple syrup.
Step two
Measure 4 ounces of cherry infused vodka.
Step three
Measure 6 ounces of fresh lemon juice.
Step four
Measure 3 ounces simple syrup
Step five
Cap the cocktail shaker and shake gently for 15 seconds. The reason I shake gently is because the shaker is so full!
Step six
Add ice cubes to the glasses and divide the vodka sour between the three glasses.
The large ice cube you see above was made with this ice cube tray.
And here’s the vertical view.
I hope you enjoyed this cherry vodka sour recipe!
What is your favorite sour cocktail? Leave me a comment as I love to know!
Other popular fruit-based cocktails
And as always, may all your dishes/drinks be delish!
If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear 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!
Cherry Vodka Sour
Ingredients
- 4 ounces cherry infused vodka
- 6 ounces lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 3 ounces simple syrup (anywhere between 2.5 – 6 ounces)
Garnish
- 6 cherries
Instructions
- Fill shaker ¾ with ice
- Add vodka, lemon juice and simple syrup
- Cap shaker and gently shake for 15 seconds
- Add ice to the glasses and divide the contents equally between the 3 glasses
- Sip
- Smile
- Enjoy
See all my favorite tools and gift ideas at my Amazon Store page!Check out Elaine’s Amazon Store!Notes
- Usually sweet and sour mix is made of equal parts citrus and syrup, but I like a more tart cocktail so I always use ½ the simple syrup that other recipes typically call for.
- Make your own simple syrup as it saves you money and is so easy. Here’s how: add equal amounts of water and sugar to a saucepan. I usually do 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar. On medium heat, bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Let the syrup cool completely before using it in a cocktail.
- I say make it like this and taste it. If it isn’t sweet enough for you, add more by ½ ounce increments and taste after each one. But I’m thinking it is sweet enough.
- You can use any glassware. The tall glass is a Tom Collins glass, my glass of choice for this cocktail. The double old fashioned glass and coupe are fun options, too.
- Fresh fruit tastes best in cocktails, so whenever you can, squeeze the lemon juice yourself.
- You can make a big batch of this cocktail. Just double or triple the ingredients and mix it in a pitcher.
Nutrition
Originally published in July of 2018. Updated photos and recipe.
Marie
Perfect for the hot weather we’ve been having! This looks absolutely refreshing and has such a pretty colour too.
Elaine
Thanks so much Marie!! I agree. At least the heat is going to break here for us in New England. But it’s been brutal.
Sandi
I always love seeing your cocktail recipes…this one is so tempting with the cherry!
Elaine
Thanks so much Sandi! It is so refreshing!
Jessica Formicola
This is my kind of cocktail! Is it 5 o’clock yet??
Elaine
Hehe! It is somewhere Jessica!
ali randall
This looks refreshing for summer. I love the flavor of cherries when tart and fresh. It’s one of my favorite cocktails.
Elaine
Thanks Ali! I do enjoy a good sour cocktail! 🙂
Daniela
I love infusing spirits, especially in the summer when fruit and berries are at their peak. And this cocktail sounds so refreshing and easy to make! Perfect for summer entertaining.
Elaine
Thanks so much Daniela! I love the summer, especially for the fresh fruit!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati
Love the color of this drink! It’s a delicious drink for summer and entertaining!
Elaine
Thanks so much Shadi! 🙂
Helena
Looks beautiful! And refreshing. And energizing. And relaxing. And energizing again 🙂
Elaine
Thanks Helena. That cracked me up!
Beth
This looks and sounds amazing, Lainey!
Elaine
Thank you Beth!
Christopher
My lips puckered reading this post. Sounds delish!
Elaine
Thanks Christopher!
Cheryl Kerspilo
How do you make your cherry infused vodka?
Elaine
Cheryl, the recipe is right on the page. You basically wash and pit a bunch of cherries, put them in a ball jar and pour in vodka. You place it in the fridge for 1 week, take the cherries out and throw them away and voila!
Jeff the Chef
Cherry Vodka Sour, where have you been all my life?
Elaine
Lol Jeff! That made my day!
rika
This drink is so refreshing and tasty! I really like it! It’s one of my favorite summer drinks!
Elaine
I’m so pleased to hear Rika! 🙂 Thank you for letting me know.
Irina
This cocktail sounds amazing! I love the color and foresee the taste. Pinning.
Elaine
Thank you Irina. It’s so refreshing that you have to keep reminding yourself that it has booze in it. 😉
Jessica Formicola
This is going to be my new favorite cocktail! I made one last night and it was incredible!
Elaine
Thanks Jessica! I’m so happy to hear that. Cheers.
Beth Sachs
Amazing colour and went down so well at our summer BBQ at the weekend.
Elaine
Thanks Beth! I’m so pleased you enjoyed it!
Eden
Oh my gosh, this was the best vodka sour ever. Thank you so much for the recipe!
Elaine
Awww, thanks Eden. I really appreciating you letting me know. I’m so pleased that you enjoyed it.
Aline
This cocktail was so good!!! Can’t wait for the weekend to make some more haha
Elaine
I’m so glad to hear Aline! I’m glad you enjoyed it and thank you for letting me know.
Kim
Can you make suggestions for those of us that don’t have the time to make the cherry infused vodka? I love anything cherry but I truly don’t have the time to pit and do all that
Elaine
Kim, they do have cherry flavored vodka in liquor stores. I haven’t tried any of those brands but I do trust Grey Goose. But if it’s not in your budget, Smirnoff is a solid brand. Just know you won’t get the same color as my drink. (I’ve also found that in the summer months – the vodka only takes around 3 days to infuse and lately I’ve been infusing it on the counter.)