Bourbon Cherry Smash

Ingredients:

• 10 pitted ripe sweet cherries plus additional for garnish
• 3 oz. (¼ cup plus 2 Tbsp.) bourbon whiskey
• 1 oz. (2 Tbsp.) orange-flavored liqueur such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier
• 1 oz. (2 Tbsp.) simple syrup^*
• ½ oz. (1 Tbsp.) fresh lime juice
• 1 dash citrus or orange bitters
• 1-½ tsp. orange zest
• Ice
• 6 ounces (¾ cup) lemon sparkling seltzer water
• Lime wedges for garnish

Instructions:

In cocktail shaker, muddle cherries, bourbon, orange liqueur, simple syrup, lime juice and bitters with a muddler or wooden spoon handle. Fill shaker halfway with ice cubes; cover and shake vigorously.

Fill two (8-oz.) glasses with ice; strain bourbon mixture into glasses. Top with seltzer; garnish with cherries and lime wedges.

Chef Tips:
*To make simple syrup:
Stir a 1:1 ratio of sugar to water in a small saucepan (i.e., 1 cup sugar to 1 cup water). Heat the sugar mixture just to boiling, then reduce the heat and let it simmer until the mixture is clear; do not stir.

Similar to a pestle, a muddler is a long stick used to mash fruits, herbs and spices in the bottom of a cocktail shaker or glass.