Sour Cherry Manhattan

Yield: 1 serving.

BYOC: If you don’t feel comfortable lighting the peel then omit. You can always add some orange bitter is you like.  The drink is quite enjoyable either way.

Ingredients

  • Ice
  • 3 tablespoons rye or bourbon
  • 2 tablespoons sour cherry juice from a jar of sour cherries, plus a cherry for garnish
  • 1 tablespoon sweet vermouth
  • 3 dashes of cherry bitters
  • 1 piece of orange peel, removed from orange with a vegetable peeler

Method

  1. Using a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour rye or bourbon, cherry juice, vermouth and bitters and shake until very cold. 
  2. Strain into Martini glass.  Being very careful squeeze the orange peel between your finger and thumb with the skin facing out. 
  3. Light the orange peel trying to get the oils to spark and immediately drop into glass.  Garnish with sour cherry.