Sparkling Sour Cherry Aperitivo
A refreshing and elegant cocktail combining homemade sour cherry syrup with sparkling wine, brightened with fresh lime juice and garnished with herbs. Perfect for special occasions or summer entertaining.
Ingredients
- •24 ounce sour cherries in light syrup
- •1 cup sugar
- •2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- •750 milliliter sparkling wine
- •6 sprigs lemon verbena or mint sprigs
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
Purée one 24-oucne jar sour cherries in light syrup (with syrup) in a blender until smooth. Strain into a medium bowl, pressing to extract as much liquid as possible. Bring cherry mixture and 1 cup sugar to a boil in a large saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar; reduce heat and simmer, occasionally skimming any foam from surface, until reduced to 1 1/2 cups, 20-30 minutes. Let cool. Mix in 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice. Cover; chill until cold, about 2 hours.
150 min
- 2.
DO AHEAD: Syrup can be made 1 month ahead. Keep chilled.
- 3.
Divide 3 tablespoons chilled sour cherry syrup among 6 glasses. Top off syrup with one 750-milliliter bottle of chilled sparkling wine, dividing evenly, and stir to combine. Garnish drinks with lemon verbena or mint sprigs, if desired.
5 min
