Cocktail: Cherry Libre
Cherry Libre
Equipment
- Jigger
- Cocktail Shaker
- Cocktail Strainer
- Cocktail Glass
Ingredients
- ½ oz White Rum (15ml)
- ½ oz Maraschino Liquor (15ml)
- 4 oz Soda (any variety) (120ml)
- 1 Marinated Maraschino Cherry
- Ice
Instructions
- Combine the rum and maraschino liquor in a shaker with ice and shake well.
- Strain into a glass over ice.
- Add the cola or soda water.
- Garnish with a marinated maraschino cherry; just drop into the glass.
Notes
Cherry Libre: A new twist on an old drink
Ok, not trying to fool anyone here. The Cherry Libre is an obvious play on the far more famous Cuba Libre. That being said, great drinks are often plays on drinks that have come before. Case in point, The White Russian.
If you’re going the full nine yards and making the Magical Marinated Maraschino Cherries, it makes sense to have something worthwhile to use your Luxardo Maraschino liquor on besides cherries.
A worthy investment
If you are on the fence about dropping the $35 for the Luxardo Maraschino liquor, allow me to help you justify this purchase. It’s true that this is more of a specialty liquor. It’s not going to get the same amount of usage you will get from a bottle of vodka. That being said, it’s a great substation for vanilla extract when baking, especially in a dense chocolate cake, brownies, or fudge.
It’s also great to be able to make drinks at home that are usually unavailable at the corner bar. This makes drinking at home a little more unique. Any half decent bar will be able to throw together a Cuba Libre. It’s doubtful you’ll find this on many menus.
Lastly, this drink is dead easy to make. It only required a few ingredients, and no real skills.
Any liquor store worth their salt should have Luxardo in their stock. If you don’t want leave your house…
It’s a little more difficult to find in Japan, but the bigger liquor shops should have it. However, it’s super easy to buy online.
No Shaker
You don’t have a shaker and don’t have any plans to get one. No problem… but what are you doing with your life?
You can build this drink in a glass. Simply fill the glass with ice. Add the rum and liquor. Pour the soda on top. Stir and then drop in the cherry. It’s extra classy if you use your finger to stir the drink.
Cherry Libre & the Cola Wars
Which soda will work best with this drink? Unlike the clear cut choice with a Cuba Libre, there are some extra options here.
A cola will work well. You’ll get something like a cherry coke. It’s really great.
You could go the opposite way and use soda water. This is a little more refreshing, but a little too plain for my liking.
These are the two options that work the best. I would avoid soda like 7up or Mountain Dew, which have too much citrus taste. Too many flavors competing.
“It’s taste just like cherry cola… c-o-l-a, cola.’