![Cherry Red Non-Alcoholic Drink](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.foodandwine.com/thmb/0SF1cv2rO0P_SaYP2spspg7gr18=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Cherry-Red-Non-Alcoholic-FT-RECIPE0123-8d27d12fe4584d1f9aeb85654e9fcf26.jpg)
Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Oset Babür-Winter
Sweet, tart, and a little spicy, the Cherry Red is sure to become one of your favorite non-alcoholic cocktails for dinner parties, happy hour, and casual sipping at home when you don't feel like adding booze into the mix. Mixologist Sebastian Reaburn uses black cherries when he makes this cocktail, which was inspired, he says, by "classic American flavors like Big Red chewing gum and Cherry Coke." While June and July — when it's easier to find fresh cherries at your local farmer's market or grocery store — are ideal times to make this cocktail, we make it any time they look good enough to buy. When shopping for cranberry juice, be sure to look for 100% real juice as opposed to cranberry juice cocktail, which can add unwanted sugars that throw off the balance in this drink.
While it might seem tedious to make an additional syrup for this cocktail, you'll be surprised by how versatile leftover Cinnamon Syrup can be. We prefer to add it to hot toddies, hot chocolates, chai lattes or even coffee drinks and cocktails. You can also pour it over vanilla ice cream, or use it as a secret ingredient in a dessert-ready Affogato Martini. Don't have simple syrup on hand for your next batch of cocktails? Cinnamon Syrup is a wonderful alternative, and stays good in the fridge for just as long. can also substitute it for simple syrup in hot or cold holiday drinks.
Ingredients
Cherry Red
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6 cherries, pitted, plus 3-4 cherries for garnish
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Ice
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2 ounces cranberry juice
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1 ounce fresh lemon juice
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1/2 ounce Cinnamon Syrup
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2 ounces chilled club soda
Cinnamon Syrup
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1 cup granulated sugar
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1 cup water
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5 cinnamon sticks
Directions
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In a small saucepan, bring the water to a boil with the sugar and cinnamon sticks. Simmer over moderate heat for 3 minutes, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Let cool, then cover and let stand for 4 hours. Strain the syrup into a jar, cover and refrigerate for up to 1 month.
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In a cocktail shaker, muddle the pitted cherries. Add ice and the cranberry juice, lemon juice and cinnamon syrup and shake well. Pour into an ice-filled highball glass, stir in the club soda and garnish with the remaining cherries.