This Cherry Bounce Recipe is a sweet, flavored homemade liqueur made by soaking pitted cherries with sugar and whiskey for at least three months. This process creates a flavorful cherry-infused cordial that can be enjoyed over ice or used in cocktails! For another homemade cocktail, check out my Apple Pie Moonshine, too! Cheers!
What Is Cherry Bounce?
Cherry bounce is a cherry liqueur made by infusing cherries with sugar and a spirit like a whiskey, bourbon, rum, brandy, or sometimes vodka. In this recipe, I used whiskey. It needs the time to steep to give it that true cherry flavor. It is considered a favorite of George Washington and popular in colonial times. Hey, if the cherry bounce has that amount of staying power, it must be good, right?!? And, with just three ingredients and some patience, you can have it at your fingertips, or should I say lips?
Cherry Bounce Ingredients & Smart Substitutions
Cherries: Sweet, tart, or even sour cherries work in this cherry bounce recipe. But, depending on the type of cherries used, you may need to adjust the amount of sugar added. If using frozen cherries, ensure they are fully thawed before using.
Sugar: Granulated sugar serves a few purposes in cherry bounce. It adds sweetness, brings out more flavor from the cherries, and acts as a preservative.
Whiskey: The spirit I chose to use is a good quality whiskey that I like to drink on its own. Other popular choices for cherry bounce are brandy, bourbon, rum, or vodka.
How To Use Cherry Bounce
Cherry Bounce can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Here are some of my favorite ways to use the liqueur:
- Sipped neat (as-is) in your favorite glass (a tasty nightcap)
- On the rocks (poured over ice)
- In cocktails like a Cherry Old-Fashioned or Cherry Manhattan
- Mix with soda water sparkling water, tonic, lemon-lime soda, or any beverage that needs a cherry twist
- Drizzled over desserts like ice cream, cheesecake, or chocolate cake
Don’t forget about the cherries themselves. They can be enjoyed as they are for an adult treat, used as a garnish for cocktails, or spooned over ice cream for a boozy dessert!
How To Store Cherry Bounce
Once the cherry bounce is mixed and stored in a jar with a secure lid, keep it in a cool, dark place for at least three months. Give a shake now and then, too. This gives it time for the flavors to develop. It also makes it a smoother drink, mellowing out the harsher taste of the alcohol. After it has been opened, you can continue to store it at room temperature as long as the cherries are still submerged in the alcohol.
Cherry Bounce Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups (308 g) sweet or tart cherries, pitted
- ⅔ cup (133 g) granulated sugar
- 2-3 cups good quality whiskey
Instructions
- In a quart jar, combine pitted cherries and granulated sugar. Top with whiskey, leaving about 1 inch of headspace. Cover the jar tightly with a lid and shake well.
- Place the jar in a cool, dark place for a minimum of 3 months, allowing it to mature for up to 1 year. Shake the jar occasionally during this period to help dissolve the sugar and enhance flavor development.
- To serve, strain cherries out. Then, pour over ice or in your favorite cocktail.
Did you make this recipe?
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I have made this every year. We have a cherry tree in our yard . This is delicious. Thank you for recipe again
Can this be jarred with the cherries instead of straining them out.
We’ve been making a similar version for many years but leave the pits in and just pierce the cherries. We leave the cherries in the jar and put a few in the glass to enjoy with the drink. We make some with brandy and some with bourbon, some with tart cherries and some with sweet. Our camping friends love it!
When I was a child (over 60 years ago) My Mom had a big crock that she called RUM POT. As each fruit (in Ontario- no citrus) came into season, she put another layer into the pot with sugar and of course RUM. By Christmas and over the next year it was a rich and powerful desert. She served it over ice cream, or sponge cake. It was colorful and she also did up jars to give as gifts for New Years. Thank you for posting this Cherry Bounce, it brought back the memory of my Moms Rum Pot 🙂
Can other fruits be used?
Can’t wait to make it and have all the ingredients. Question though. I’m using frozen thawed cherries. Do I used the liquid or do I discard the liquid from the thawed cherries? Thank you
KEEP Da juice! Add to the steeping jar. Make Martha smile as you join her circle of bouncers.
I can find Cherrys can you substitute anything?