Nostalgia is a powerful feeling, and the Adult Cherry Limeade brings it all back for me. That not too sweet, not too tart summer refresher. I can even taste the candy-like maraschino cherry dropped into the drink in a quasi garnish for a syrup drink in a styrofoam cup. Not today, this alcoholic version packs fresh fruit with gin and optional bubbles. That would be the second way to enjoy this cocktail.

Adult Cherry Limeade without Sparkling Water — One way to make this – without sparkling water.

Fresh is best here! Cherry season is short, so get ’em while you can. Fresh cherries make this drink the best, as does using a fresh lime instead of bottled juice. Going for a London dry gin is also a good idea here, you really want the fruit to do the talking and the gin to just add the “adult” part of this drink. Roku makes a lovely gin perfect for this cocktail.

Print Pin It

Adult Cherry Limeade

Two different ways to make the Adult Cherry Limeade! Fresh cherries and limes, with gin and optional soda.

Ingredients

.5 Whole Lime cut in 4 pieces
6 Whole Cherries – fresh! Not from a jar.
.5 Oz. Simple syrup
1.5 Oz. Gin
Soda or seltzer to top, for one version of this drink.

Instructions

In your glass or cocktail shaker, muddle your six cherries (pits removed) and your 1/2 of a lime, cut into pieces. Add the .5 oz. of simple sugar to the muddling mix.
Add your gin to the muddled fruit mixture.
Shake vigorously! REALLY vigorously.
Double strain into your rocks glass.
If you want a longer lasting and more diluted adult cherry limeade, use a collins glass and top with soda or seltzer or sparkling water.

Cherries and Limes for Cocktail — Use fresh, and smash up that lime with peel for the oils!

Notes on the Adult Cherry Limeade.

You don’t have to remove the pits or stems from the cherries, it just makes your muddling not as smooth. The stems and pits strain out.

Muddle all of the lime – including the peel. Part of the amazing flavor from the limes comes from the oil in the peel, you want to savor that!

One version of this gin cocktail is just gin and juice with a touch of simple syrup. You can make another version by topping your drink with soda, seltzer, or sparkling water. Skip the flavored waters and just go for something with bubbles.

I haven’t tried this with frozen cherries, but I suppose it could work if you have a craving when there are no cherries in sight. I definitely would NOT use Maraschino cherries – the Italian version or the candy neon American version. You just want fresh cherry flavor.

For a similar drink, with lemons, the Cherry South Side should be perfect for you.