Cherry, lime & whiskey cocktails

Given the plethora of ingredients, both alcohol based and otherwise, and the infinite potential combinations with which to create a cocktail, it was no mean feat designing the liquid offering which would begin our wintry dinner party.  However, given the celebratory nature of our evening I figured that an apt ingredient upon which to build my cocktail would be bubbles.  The variety of which – either champagne or sparkling wine – will be entirely dependant on the depth of ones pockets of course!  In addition to the bubbles I reckoned a good splash of firey amber whiskey would help to warm our chilly guests upon arrival whilst also adding depth to the drink.  And lastly for flavour I chose to add cherries whose deep red flesh colour this cocktail a happy shade of scarlet.

I loved making these cocktails and was pleasantly surprised by how good they tasted (if I may say so myself!).  In quilted jars with red and white striped straws they were fun to serve and even more fun to drink!

Ingredients

Makes approx 12 drinks

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• 680g jar preserved cherries, including the syrup (or equal weight fresh cherries plus 1/4 cup water).
• ¼ cup sugar

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• 4 limes, juice and zest (peeled into thick strips)
• ¼ cup whiskey
• Mint leaves
• Ice, crushed or cubed
• 2 bottles champagne/sparkling wine

Method

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• 1. Boil the cherries and sugar until the fruit softens. This takes around 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
• 2. Blend the cherries until smooth and strain. Make sure to work the fruit through the sieve to get out as much of the juice as you can. You will be left with a velvety thin sauce.
• 3. Combine the cherry juice, lime juice (I also peeled strips of zest and added it to the mixture) and the whiskey and stir well to combine. Put about 2 shots of this mixture into the bottom of a glass and top with champagne. Add ice and mint leaves to garnish.