
Cheerwine and bourbon are both Southern staples—and, as this cocktail proves, they work well when mixed together, too. Just ask Trace Conway, general manager of Charleston, South Carolina farm-to-table restaurant Butcher & Bee, who decided to infuse a very classic cocktail with the cherry-flavored soda. “Bourbon and cherries go hand in hand—think about a classic Old Fashioned, which is what we based our cocktail [Slumber Queen] on,” Conway says. “We chose Virgil Kaine Bourbon as it is also a local product and the best bourbon in Charleston." Conway reduces Cheerwine with sugar and baking spices to create a tangy syrup that’s similar in flavor to Cherry Heering. If you don’t have Virgil Kaine, this cocktail will taste great with the bourbon or rye of your choice.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 oz Bourbon
- .5 oz Cheerwine Syrup
- 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
- Lemon twist
INSTRUCTIONS
Step one
Add all ingredients, save for the garnish, to a mixing glass with ice.
Step two
Stir and strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice.
Step three
Express a lemon twist over the cocktail and drop in as a garnish.
Contributed by Trace Conway