Cherry Smash

For Traverse City Whiskey Co.’s Diane Corcoran, one of the industry-leading authorities on cherry cocktail mixology, few cocktails are more dynamic — or more certain to be a home run with patrons — than the cherry smash. The base ingredients for this cocktail are the same ones you’d use for a standard whiskey smash: bourbon whiskey, lemon, fresh mint leaves, simple syrup. But there are a few twists that make Corcoran’s recipe unique. 

The first twist is that Corcoran trades regular bourbon for TC Whiskey Co.’s cherry-infused variety. The second twist is, once you’ve prepped the base recipe, Corcoran recommends adding in and muddling whatever fresh fruit ingredients might be on hand: pitted sweet or tart cherries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries or “whatever you can find at the farmers’ market,” she says. The resulting cocktail, whether you drink it as a straightforward whiskey smash with a cherry hint or as a fresh-fruit extravaganza, is crisp, sweet and refreshing. Corcoran says to never “dry muddle.” Always muddle with a little simple syrup to help bring out the flavor of whatever it is you are muddling.