Black Cherry Spritzer Food

GINGER-CHERRY LIMEADE SPRITZER

Steps:

• Fill a Collins glass with ice, pour in the limeade and cherry juice and top with the ginger beer. Garnish with the maraschino cherries and a lime wedge.

CHERRY-LIME SPARKLER

Steps:

• Place the pitted cherries in a large mixing bowl. Add the sugar, lime juice and salt. Stir until the cherries are evenly coated. Set aside at room temperature for 1 hour to macerate the cherries.
• Drain the cherry mixture, collecting and reserving all the juice. Thread the macerated cherries amongst 8 cocktail skewers and set aside for garnish.
• Stir together the reserved cherry juice and seltzer in a small pitcher.
• Fill 8 highball glasses with ice cubes. Pour the cherry sparkler over the ice and garnish each glass with a skewer of cherries and a sprig of mint. Serve immediately.

SPARKLING BLACK CHERRY GRAPE SPRITZER

Steps:

• Using a vegetable peeler, peel 6 (3-inch) long strips of lemon zest, taking care to not peel into the white pith. Squeeze 2 tablespoons of juice from the lemon into a small pot. Add the zest strips, sugar and water and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and cool.
• Strain into a serving pitcher and top with the grape juice and seltzer. Serve over ice with slices of lemon, if desired.

BLACK CHERRY VODKA WITH SMOKED ICE CUBES

Steps:

• Fill an ice cube tray with water; add 1 drop liquid smoke to each cube and freeze until firm. Combine 2 cups chilled black cherry soda, 1/2 cup chilled vodka, the juice of 2 limes and a few dashes of chipotle hot sauce in a pitcher. Fill 4 glasses with the smoked ice cubes; pour in the cocktail and garnish with lime twists.