Description
The sweet dark cherries, smooth amaretto, and bright lime come together in a way that feels both sophisticated and fun at the same time. That twist of amaretto instead of the usual orange liqueur adds this beautiful almond flavor that pairs perfectly with fresh cherries.
Ingredients
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- 5 sweet dark cherries, stems and pits removed
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- ½ ounce agave nectar (or simple syrup)
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- ¾ ounce fresh squeezed lime juice (about half a lime)
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- 1½ ounces mezcal or blanco tequila
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- 1 ounce amaretto liqueur
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- Ice cubes
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- Extra fresh cherries for garnish
Instructions
Remove the stems and pits from your cherries. A cherry pitter makes this super easy, but you can also just tear them open with your fingers and pull out the pits.
Don’t worry if the cherries get a little messy, that’s part of the charm. The juice adds beautiful color and flavor to the drink.
Drop the cherries, agave, and lime juice into your cocktail shaker. Take your muddler and press down firmly, crushing the cherries into a pulp.
Keep muddling until each cherry is completely broken apart and the mixture looks like a chunky puree. This is where all that gorgeous cherry flavor comes from, so don’t rush it.
Pour in your mezcal or tequila and the amaretto. The combination smells incredible at this point, with the cherry, lime, and almond all coming together.
Give it a quick stir just to incorporate everything before you add the ice. This helps blend the flavors a bit before you shake.
Add a generous handful of ice to the shaker and put the lid on tight. Shake vigorously for about 30 seconds until the outside of the shaker is ice cold and frosty.
You want to shake long enough to really chill the drink and dilute it just slightly. The condensation on the outside of the shaker is your signal that it’s ready.
Fill your glass with fresh ice. Strain the margarita through your cocktail strainer into the glass, leaving all those cherry bits behind in the shaker.
Drop a few fresh cherries on top for garnish. They look pretty and give you something to snack on as you sip your drink.
Notes
Mocktail Version: Replace the tequila with club soda and the amaretto with ½ oz diet cola plus ½ oz almond syrup. The mocktail version may be a bit sweeter, so pull back on the agave if needed.
Make-Ahead: Pit and prep your cherries ahead of time and store them in the fridge for up to a day. Make a cherry simple syrup by muddling cherries with extra agave and a splash of water. Strain it and keep it in the fridge for up to a week.
Variations: Try using raspberries or blackberries instead of cherries. Add a sprig of fresh basil or mint to the shaker before muddling. Make it spicy by muddling a thin slice of jalapeño with the cherries. Use frozen cherries in winter when fresh ones aren’t available.
Batch Recipe: Make a big batch by multiplying the recipe and muddling in a pitcher. Pre-batch the cherry mixture without the spirits for parties and just add the alcohol and ice when someone orders a drink.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: American