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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Cherry Bourbon Spritz

drinks· Holiday Favorites· Valentine's Day
December 8, 2023

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Cherry Bourbon Spritz – Sweet cherries are smashed with lemon juice and bourbon and then finished with a little cherry sparkling water.

a short glass with a gold rim filled with cherry bourbon spritz and a garnish of rosemary twig

Happy Friday! It’s only fitting that I send you into the weekend with a new holiday drink. This one is made with bourbon, which, along with mezcal, has been a popular hard liquor lately. The Old-fashioned is the most common use for bourbon whiskey, but it can be a little much for me. Instead, I like using bourbon in a fun spritz.

In this Cherry Bourbon Spritz, I smash cherries with fresh lemon juice, shake with bourbon, and then pour over ice with a little cherry sparkling water. That’s it! But, man, does it taste incredible! The best part of this drink is how balanced it is – not too strong, not too sweet. Just perfection.

Here is my Cherry Bourbon Spritz!

overhead shot of cherry bourbon spritz in glass with a sprig of rosemary
zoomed in shot of cherry bourbon spritz in a glass with ice

Tips & Tricks

  1. Use jarred cherries. The extra sugar in jarred cherries is just enough to sweeten this drink. Make sure they are the dark cherries, not the bright red ones. The bright red ones can be too artificial-tasting.
  2. Sparkling water. You need to have the sparkling water to give the drink the right balance. I love using cherry Bubly for the right amount of flavor without all the sweetness.
  3. Lemon juice. You must use freshly squeezed lemon juice for this recipe. It’s such a key component of the drink so you can’t risk it by using jarred juice.
Print Recipe

Cherry Bourbon Spritz

Prep Time5 minutes mins
Servings: 1 drink

Ingredients

  • 5 Luxardo cherries from a jar, stems removed
  • 1.5 ounces fresh lemon juice
  • 2 ounces Bourbon whiskey
  • 2 ounces cherry sparkling water
  • 2 cups ice

Instructions

  • Add cherries and lemon juice to the cup of your drink shaker. Using a muddler, smash the cherries into small pieces. Add bourbon and 1 cup of ice. Cover and shake for 15 seconds.
  • Add ¾ cup of ice to a short glass. Strain bourbon mixer over the ice in the glass until all the liquid is out of the shaker. Top with cherry sparkling water and serve.

Pin for later:

pin of cherry bourbon spritz

More drinks you’ll love:

Bourbon Peach Smash
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Cranberry Orange Aperol Spritz
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Holiday Mule
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15 Comments

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Comments

  1. Emily Tanaka says

    June 12, 2026 at 12:07 am

    This sounds absolutely divine! I am a huge fan of bourbon cocktails but sometimes an Old Fashioned is just too heavy. A spritz version with cherry and lemon is such a smart way to lighten it up. I have those Luxardo cherries in my fridge right now and cherry Bubly is my go-to sparkling water too. Do you think this would work with other fruits like raspberry or blackberry? I could see a blackberry bourbon spritz being amazing for summer parties!

    Reply
  2. Jason Chen says

    June 9, 2026 at 10:11 pm

    This looks absolutely perfect for the holidays! I love how simple it is to put together but still feels special enough for guests. The cherry and bourbon combo is such a classic pairing. I recently shared a fun banana bread donut recipe on my site that follows a similar easy-going approach to holiday treats. Definitely saving this one to try for our New Year celebration!

    Reply
  3. Jason Chen says

    June 6, 2026 at 12:08 am

    Cherry bourbon spritz cookies sound like the perfect combination! The bourbon adds such a sophisticated depth to the cherry flavor. I work with AI photo tools professionally and I can imagine how stunning these would look in a styled food photography shoot with that glossy cherry glaze catching the light. Your tips about chilling the dough are really helpful too. Definitely pinning this one!

    Reply
  4. Onstream apk says

    June 3, 2026 at 5:52 pm

    Really amazing and very delicious recipe if you want to enjoy this recipe then you can visit onstream which gives you a best and unique result thanks!

    Reply
  5. InstaPrime says

    March 11, 2026 at 7:03 am

    Thanks for refreshing and delicious recipie

    Reply
  6. Deline says

    February 7, 2026 at 2:14 am

    @doodle jump Love it. This will be ideal for us as a post-dinner drink.

    Reply
  7. CreativeFlow says

    November 19, 2025 at 6:09 am

    This is inspiring. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

    Reply
  8. solitaire bliss says

    May 14, 2025 at 12:43 am

    This drink recipe is great to drink in the summer.

    Reply
  9. Crossy Road says

    July 2, 2024 at 5:15 am

    This is delicious! The flavors are perfectly balanced.

    Reply
  10. Melissa Costanzo says

    June 12, 2024 at 8:38 am

    Ride the wave of style with a pink palm puff everything comes in waves ! the vibrant color and soft fabric Makes it more beautiful and makes you feel better when you wear it.

    Reply
  11. Ann says

    December 9, 2023 at 12:52 am

    I’m a bourbon girl and loving the color of this drink for a ladies night. Thanks!

    Reply
  12. Kushigalu says

    December 9, 2023 at 12:37 am

    A refreshing and delicious treat for holidays. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  13. Gianne says

    December 8, 2023 at 9:01 pm

    It has the perfect balance of sweet cherries and the rich flavor of bourbon. The sparkling fizz adds a refreshing twist. It’s a delightful drink that I can’t get enough of!

    Reply
  14. Holly says

    December 8, 2023 at 6:52 pm

    I am with you! My best friend is an “old Fashion” girl, but they are way too intense for me. This was the perfect compromise. I can drink bourbon with her and enjoy it! This recipe is delicious. Thanks

    Reply
  15. Andrea says

    December 8, 2023 at 6:37 pm

    Oh yum! Cherry and bourbon is such a delicious flavor combination. This will be perfect for us as an after dinner cocktail.

    Reply

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