Cherry Berry Cocktail

This Cherry Berry Cocktail is sweet, tart, and refreshing. A mix of cherry liqueur, gin, and berry juices, it will help you enjoy the lush abundance of summer. Plus, it's just gorgeous. What could be better?

Normally I use this section to talk about some seemingly obscure observation about life and magic. But can we just talk for a second about how absolutely beautiful cherries are? I've been working with them a bit more often lately for summer content, and every time I cut one open, I wish I could create a painting with the cherry juice. It's just the most perfect, vibrant color.

Okay, so I guess I am gonna talk about magic because how perfectly magical and miraculous is it that we have something so beautiful available to us to eat and look at. What a gift from nature. If we don't pause to appreciate the beauty of the world around us, to really stand in breathless awe of what has been created here, then we're bound to mindlessly destroy it. I don't ever want to live in a world without the perfect color of cherry juice. Witchcraft connects us back to the Earth we live on and asks us to be reverent stewards of her resources. Everyday, we can try to do better.

What makes this Cherry Berry Cocktail so awesome?

Anyway, maybe you want to celebrate the perfection of cherries by mixing up a cherry berry cocktail. I used cherry brandy here, but any cherry liqueur will do. I also found something called forest fruits juice in my supermarket, but take a look around your grocery store for whatever kind of mixed berry juice strikes your fancy. It's a perfect balance of sweet and tart. There's also a shot of gin for depth of flavor and soda water for a bit of sparkle.

No, technically you don't need to add fresh cherries and mint. It's just garnish, and of course you could live a totally utilitarian life free of all garnish and embellishment. Sometimes life calls for that, but I think we can all agree that if you're going to go to the trouble of making a cocktail, you might as well go the extra mile and give yourself a couple of those perfect cherries.

Magical Properties of Cherries

You only need to observe a cherry tree to know that it's brimming with magic. Communities have created weeks-long festivals to honor the brief and beautiful blossoms. Then it begins to bear fruit that is both beautiful and delicious. What a gift!

Cherry energy is tied to vitality and passion. Cherry pits can also be used for divination. They're probably most commonly called on in spells for sexual attraction, and it only takes a bit of imagination to see why. The hidden seed inside is also a symbol of fertility. Associated with Venus in the West, it was also seen as a sweet and feminine energy in Japanese culture. (Source: Elune Blue)

Tips for making a Cherry Berry Cocktail

Look, making a cocktail never needs to be complicated. Sure, there are people who may try to make it so, but I'm not one of those people. Fill a glass with ice, pour over your cherry liqueur, gin, and berry juice. Then just top it up with soda water or club soda. If you do it in that order, you'll start out with a bit of a layered effect like you see in the photo. This is beautiful, but you'll obviously want to stir it before drinking for the best flavor.

When it comes to garnish, I went simple with some fresh cherries and a sprig of mint. You could add other berries. You could muddle some cherries and berries if you like. It's up to you. I don't like bits floating around in my drinks, so I went for bigger pieces. Look around and see what you have.

Celebrate what the Earth has to offer. Make a Cherry Berry Cocktail and make it magical. It'll be awesome.

Looking for more awesome fruity cocktail ideas? Try a Strawberry Soju Slushie or a beautiful Blackcurrant & Lemon Cocktail.

Print