Slumber Queen

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.