BACKSTAGE PASS / PUNK ROCK ON THE ROCKS / ISSUE 002
PUNK ROCK ON THE ROCKS:
BLACK CHERRY RIOT
Halloween’s over. The fake cobwebs are coming down, the weather’s getting colder, and apparently we’re supposed to start thinking about Thanksgiving.
Meanwhile, Andi is trying to put a swimming pool in our rehearsal studio.
Yeah. A swimming pool.
Inside.
I’m not even going to get into that right now because I need a drink, and unlike Andi’s construction plans, this one actually makes sense.
Meet the Black Cherry Riot.
It’s dark, a little sweet, a little sour, and packs enough of a punch to remind you that bourbon isn’t messing around. It’s the kind of cocktail that looks sophisticated until you realize it’s got the personality of someone who just got thrown out of a dive bar.
In other words, I love it.
What You’re Gonna Need
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz black cherry juice
- ½ oz fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz grenadine
- 2 dashes aromatic bitters
- Ice
- 2 dark cherries for garnish
- Optional rosemary sprig if you’re feeling fancy
How to Make It
Step 1: Start with the good stuff.
Grab your shaker and pour in two ounces of bourbon. You don’t need to mortgage your house for a bottle, but don’t use something that tastes like it was filtered through somebody’s work boot, either.
Step 2: Bring on the cherry.
Add one ounce of black cherry juice. That’s where the deep color and rich flavor come from.
Step 3: Give it some attitude.
Half an ounce of fresh lemon juice. Fresh. Not that weird plastic lemon that’s been sitting in your refrigerator since Easter.
Step 4: Sweeten the deal.
Add half an ounce of grenadine and two dashes of aromatic bitters. The grenadine brings sweetness, the bitters keep it from tasting like something you’d order at a middle-school dance.
Step 5: Shake it like you mean it.
Fill the shaker with ice, close it up, and give it a solid 10–15-second shake.
Step 6: Make it look pretty.
Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Drop in two dark cherries. Add a rosemary sprig if you want to impress somebody.
Congratulations. You’ve made a Black Cherry Riot.
Jo’s Verdict
This one’s a keeper.
The bourbon gives it some backbone, the cherry brings a rich sweetness, and the lemon cuts through everything just enough to keep you coming back for another sip.
It’s not overly complicated. It doesn’t require seventeen ingredients imported from a monastery in France. And you don’t need to own a stupid little smoking machine to make it look interesting.
Just a good cocktail with a little bite.
And considering the conversations I’ve been having lately about pool pumps, water damage, and whether or not you can put a diving board next to a drum kit, I appreciate things that don’t require a structural engineer.
One last thing: this is a strong drink. Enjoy it responsibly. Nobody needs you doing cannonballs into Andi’s imaginary pool after three of these.
Until next time, stay loud, stay thirsty, and don’t let anybody put a swimming pool next to your amplifier.
— Jo