Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 cup granulated white sugar
1 1/2 cups pitted fresh cherries (reserve a few for garnish)
20 or so good-sized fresh mint leaves
2 limes
8 ounces white rum
club soda, chilled
ice cubes, optional
Directions:
- Prepare a simple syrup (do this a couple of hours ahead of time- or longer- so that it has time to chill). > Boil water, add sugar and stir until dissolved. Let cool, then chill in the refrigerator until it has a chance to get very cold.
- In a blender or food processor, blend chilled simple syrup and cherries. Pour through a strainer, discard the cherry pulp and keep the sweetened cherry juice.
- Place 4 to 5 mint leaves in the bottom of 4 to 6 tall glasses. Squeeze half a lime into each glass. Add 2 ounces of rum to each glass. Use a muddler (or the handle of a wooden spoon) to smash the mint leaves, lime juice and rum together. Divide the sweetened cherry juice between the four glasses. Top each drink off with chilled club soda. Stir, garnish with fresh cherries and serve. Add an ice cube or two, if desired.
Tips:
*It’s okay to prepare the sweetened cherry juice up to one day ahead. Keep chilled.
*Don’t have a cherry pitter? Find a straw and poke the straw through the cherries. It might take a little longer, but the pit will pop right out!