Barrel-Aged Cherry Soda Recipe

By
Kevin Liu
Kevin Liu
Kevin Liu is a cocktail nerd and the co-owner of The Tin Pan, The Jasper, and Carytown Cupcakes in Richmond, VA. He is also the author of Craft Cocktails at Home: Offbeat Techniques, Contemporary Crowd Pleasers, and Classics Hacked with Science.
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Updated March 30, 2025

If you can barrel-age cocktails, why not barrel-age a mocktail?

As it turns out, many of the flavor compounds found in bourbon are present in cherries, which is why I chose a tart cherry juice to be the base of this drink. The bourbon notes are pumped up with some 1:1 simple syrup, "barrel-aged" using a simple kit. To really knock this drink out of the park, consider smoking the syrup before use. Just don't smoke the whole drink—the flavor gets a little overwhelming.

Recipe Details

Barrel-Aged Cherry Soda Recipe

Prep 5 mins
Active 2 mins
Steeping Time 48 hrs
Total 48 hrs 5 mins
Serves 1 serving
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Ingredients

For the barrel-aged simple syrup:

  • 220 grams sugar (about 3/4 cup)

  • 220 grams water (about 15/16 cup)

For the cocktail:

  • 60 grams tart cherry juice (about 2 ounces)

  • 15 grams barrel-aged simple syrup (about 1/2 ounce, or to taste)

  • 15 grams fresh juice from 1 whole lemon (about 1/2 ounce)

  • 30 grams chilled seltzer water (about 1 ounce)

Directions

  1. To make the barrel-aged simple syrup: Combine sugar and water in a nonreactive container and allow to combine. Give it a few shakes if necessary. Transfer the syrup to the Tuthilltown Distillery container (with stave for flavoring) and let rest for 2 days at room temperature. Use or transfer to the fridge after two days and store there for up to a week.

  2. For the cocktail: Combine cherry juice, barrel-aged simple syrup, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until well chilled, about 10 seconds. Strain into a ice-filled rocks glass and top with seltzer water.

Special equipment

Cocktail shaker, Barrel aging kit

This Recipe Appears In

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
912 Calories
0g Fat
235g Carbs
0g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 912
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 48mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 235g 86%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 234g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 21mg 105%
Calcium 16mg 1%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 93mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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