Cherry-Infused Bourbon Recipe
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full disclosure.
Dried cherries soaked in a sweetened mixture of bourbon, cinnamon sticks, and vanilla make the most deliciously flavorful cherry bourbon for holiday cocktails! It’s mostly passive, so just add everything in a jar and…wait. Your patience will be rewarded with a complex, fruity beverage perfect for sipping in the cold winter months.
Did you know people have been infusing cherries in alcohol for centuries? They recently found bottles of cherry bounce at Mt. Vernon made with pie cherries infused in brandy. This recipe is inspired by this tradition, but with a twist…I use dried cherries.
I know, I know…lots of people like to infuse fresh cherries in bourbon and you can certainly do that, but dried cherries will impart an even stronger cherry flavor. Plus, you can make it any time of the year!
Don’t worry—I’ll walk you through both versions, so even if you’re a purist and aren’t convinced about the dried cherries, I recommend giving it a go.
If you love cherry season like I do, be sure to make these pickled cherries or this black cherry simple syrup!
Why you’ll love this cherry flavored bourbon recipe
- Makes a great gift for the holidays
- Perfect addition for your liquor cabinet
- Tastes like cherry season any time of the year
- Very easy, low effort preserving project
- Great way to use up extra dried cherries
- Requires just a few simple ignredients (and a little time)
What makes this recipe different?
There are lots of cherry bourbon recipes out there, but this one uses dried cherries instead of fresh. (See the notes below if you want to use fresh cherries instead.)
Why use dried cherries instead of the plumpest, freshest cherries? The moisture content.
All that cherry juice will dilute the flavor of the bourbon. When you use dried cherries, you get an intense, rich cherry flavor without diluting the bourbon with juice.
I tasted this batch after 2 weeks and was shocked by how rich the flavor was! If you use fresh cherries, you’ll want to extend the infusion time several more weeks.
Plus, this version is shelf-stable and safer to store than liqueurs made with fresh fruits. So, you get an incredible flavor and a safer infusion! Win-win.
Equipment
To make this cherry bourbon recipe, you’ll need:
- 2 quart mason jars
- Fine mesh strainer
If using fresh cherries, you’ll also need a cherry pitter.
Ingredients
- Dried cherries – Personally, I prefer to use dried cherries instead of fresh cherries, as explained above. You can use fresh cherries instead, but just keep in mind that the flavor will be different and the alcohol will be slightly diluted from the fresh cherry juice.
- Bourbon – For this recipe, I used Jim Beam, which is an affordable option that also goes down quite easily. Feel free to use whichever kind of bourbon you prefer.
- White sugar – Sugar is optional, but it turns this more into a liqueur you can pour and sip any time. Brown sugar works well too and will add a richer flavor.
- Cinnamon stick – I added 2 cinnamon sticks to my jar, which add a nice, warm flavor.
- Vanilla bean – Sliced open to help release the caviar.
How to Make Cherry Infused Bourbon
- Add all of the ingredients to the jar. Close and shake well.
- Shake daily for 1 week, then let the mixture cure in a cool, dark place for 3-4 weeks or longer. (Taste the mixture and if you like it, it’s ready.)
- Strain out the infused cherries to use on ice cream or in cocktails, and store the liqueur in a mason jar or bottle.
Note: If using fresh cherries, use a high-proof Bourbon (100 proof) and extending the infusion time to about 6 weeks. After straining, I recommend storing the mixture made with fresh cherries in the fridge instead of the pantry.
Storing Suggestions
If you use dried cherries, the liqueur will not be diluted and can be stored at room temperature. If you use fresh cherries, I recommend storing them in the fridge.
How to Serve Bourbon-Soaked Cherries
These deliciously boozy bourbon cherries can be served in several different ways. First, the liqueur can be used in countless cocktails old fashioned, manhattan, etc) or serve on its own over ice. Drizzle it over ice cream, stir it into brown sugar lemonade, etc!
The plump little cherries are extra special, too. Since this recipe uses dried cherries, the cherries actually have a pleasant chewiness that I find quite irresistible. They can be:
- Added to cocktails
- Served over ice cream
- Baked into cakes or cherry scones
- Add them to a cheese plate
- Give them away as gifts
- Drizzle them with melted chocolate for a boozy treat
Tips & Variations
- If using fresh cherries, I used dark sweet cherries, but tart cherries are an iconic option for cherry-infused bourbon.
- Feel free to use different mix-ins. Add some lemon zest, orange peel, maple syrup for sweetness instead of sugar, different dried spices, etc.
- If your dried cherries are sweetened, hold off on the extra sugar. They may be plenty sweet on their own.
- You can make this recipe with many other dried fruits, like dried cranberries, dried apples, dried pears, etc.
- Use fewer cherries. This recipe calls for 1 cup of dried cherries, which is quite a bit. You can use a smaller amount, but you may need to infuse the mixture for longer.
FAQs
Technically, yes, but I would not recommend it. The frozen cherries will soften to the point of mushiness, and the extra liquid will dilute the bourbon quite a bit. But, they do work. If you try this, I would store the mixture in the fridge.
Although you may be able to, I did not see a safe canning recipe for bourbon cherries. Since the cherries last for so long on their own, I don’t really see a point unless you are trying to sell or ship them.
That depends on whether you’re using fresh or dried cherries. For this cherry flavored bourbon recipe, I use dehydrated cherries, which have a concentrated cherry flavor. They tend to be done in about 2-4 weeks of total infusion time, while fresh cherries require closer to 6 weeks. Taste the liquid (or the cherries). If you’re happy with the flavor, they’re done!
Related Recipes
- Vanilla Pear Liqueur
- Spiced Apple Liqueur
- Lavender Liqueur
- Blackberry-Infused Vodka
- Homemade Bourbon Vanilla Extract
Cherry Infused Bourbon Recipe
Equipment
- quart mason jar
- funnel or canning funnel
- storage bottle
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried cherries, if using fresh cherries, you'll need 2 cups of cherries or more
- 32 oz bourbon, or slightly less depending on volume of cherries
- 1/2 cup white sugar, or up to 1 cup
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 vanilla bean, sliced in half
Instructions
- Add the cherries, sugar, cinnamon sticks, and vanilla bean to the jar.
- Cover with bourbon.
- Close the jar and shake thoroughly.
- Place in an obvious place and shake daily for 1 week. Then, move to a cool, dark place and let the mixture infuse for 3-4 weeks or when you like the taste.
- After that time, strain out the cherries, cinnamon sticks, and vanilla. (Save the rehydrated boozy cherries to serve over ice cream or to add to cake!)
- Store in a sealed bottle in a cool, dry place for 1-2 years.
Nutrition
Pin this recipe for later!
