Food & Cooking Recipes Drink Recipes Cocktail Recipes Cherry Bounce Cocktail 5.0 (1) This sour cherry liquor has been a favorite American tipple for more than 200 years. Close Credit: Mikkel Vang Prep Time: 20 mins Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Yield: 2 cups Jump to recipe Legend has it that the cherry bounce, a drink popular in the southern United States, was one of George Washington’s favorite tipples. It was originally made with brandy, but there are versions wtih bourbon, vodka, dark rum, or (as here) white rum. We like to use white rum because it lets the natural color of the sour cherries shine through. Cherry bounce is very simple to make. Just pierce fresh sour cherries with a knife to allow the alcohol to penetrate them. Transfer the fruits to a large crock with tight-fitting lid and add the other ingredients. Give it a quick stir, and set aside for between one week and one month. Drain off the cherries and refrigerate the cherry-infused spirit. 32 Sour Cherry Recipes to Help You Make the Most of This Special Fruit What Is Cherry Bounce? Cherry bounce is an alcoholic drink made with sour cherries. It may have its origins in England but has become best known stateside. Early recipes called for brandy to macerate the cherries in, then bourbon and other whiskies became popular, and today recipes call for a variety of spirits including vodka and white rum, as used in our recipe.. Many recipes add sugar and spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. It takes several months to make cherry bounce; the cherries are soaked in the liquor, then strained off, and the liquor refrigerated to allow the flavors to develop further. 9 Types of Glasses to Stock in Your Home Bar—and the Cocktails That Taste Best in Each How to Serve Cherry Bounce Cherry Bounce should be enjoyed chilled. It can be sipped over ice, when we do this we serve it in short-stemmed glasses, like a cordial glass, garnished with frozen sour cherries. It can also be mixed with other spirits or beverages for a cocktail. Try substituting cherry bounce for other alcohol in cocktails such as an old-fashioned or a Manhattan or making a spritz with prosecco and soda water. This recipe contains no sugar. If you prefer a sweeter drink, add up to 1/4 cup demerara sugar to the strained bounce; stir to dissolve before bottling. Directions Pierce cherries Using the tip of a sharp knife, pierce 2 to 3 holes in each fresh cherry, then place in a large crock or jar with a tight-fitting lid. Add rum; cover and store: Pour in rum and stir to combine, pressing lightly on cherries to release some juices. Cover jar and let stand in a cool, dark place at least 1 week and up to 1 month. Strain and refrigerate: Strain mixture, discarding solids; pour liquid into a resealable jar or bottle. Refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 6 months. Serve: Serve chilled, over ice, with frozen cherries. Storage Once made, cherry bounce should be refrigerated. After macerating the cherries in alcohol for between one week and one month, then straining the cherries off, we recommend you refrigerate it for longer than the minimum of one hour called for in the recipe. It will last for as long as six months and is at its best after at least two months of refrigeration. Frequently Asked Questions What is in George Washington’s cherry bounce? The cherry bounce recipe used by the Washington family in the 18th century is a brandy-based drink made with sour cherries, brandy, sugar, and spices. What cherries are in cherry bounce? Most cherry bounce recipes use sour cherries but there are a few that call for sweet cherries. Other Sour Cherry Cocktail Recipes to Try: Sour-Cherry Old Fashioned Cherry-Orange Bourbon Sour Cherry Cordial Sour-Cherry Mojitos The Firecracker Updated by Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer is an experienced food editor, writer, and recipe developer. She manages the decorvow recipe archive and is always curious about new ingredients and the best techniques. She has been working in food media for over 20 years.