Here's How You Make Homemade Boozy Cherry Coke

Thrillist

Sure you could just order a Jack and Coke, but where's the fun in that? Instead make BravoTV's boozy cherry Coke that's got a totally, 100% homemade cherry cola recipe, whiskey, and cherries for garnish. 

Boozy Cherry Coke

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 oz. whiskey
  • 3 cherries
  • 12 oz homemade cola (soda machine + cola SYRUP)
  • Cola syrup:
  • grated zest of 2 medium oranges
  • grated zest of 1 large lime
  • grated zest of 1 large lemon
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg, preferably freshly grated
  • 1 section of a star anise pod, crushed
  • 2 teaspoons minced ginger
  • 1 one-and-a-half-inch piece vanilla bean, split
  • ¼ teaspoon citric acid (available at health food stores, or canning supply stores or kingarthurflour.com)
  • 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon (packed) light brown sugar
DIRECTIONS:
  • In a heavy pot over medium heat, bring 2 cups water to a simmer with the zests, cinnamon, nutmeg, star anise, ginger, vanilla and citric acid. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer gently for 20 minutes.
  • Strain the mixture, then bring the liquid back into the pot and add sugar, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves, about 15 minutes. Transfer to containers and keep refrigerated.
  • Using a soda maker, create homemade cola by placing about 3 oz of cola syrup into seltzer maker bottle filled with water.
  • In a food processor, crush about 2 cups of ice.
  • Pour whiskey and soda in a crushed-ice-filled Collins glass. Re-pack crushed ice on top and pour a layer of grenadine and garnish with cherries.
Thrillist Video brings you the best local food stories and trends, from barbecue tips to odd jobs around the world.

Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email, and get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun.