Cherry Coke Recipe

Chill glass

Place the serving glass in the freezer for 5–10 minutes or fill it with ice water while you prepare ingredients to ensure the drink stays cold.

If using maraschino cherries from a jar, measure the cherry juice or syrup from the jar. You can use canned cherry syrup, grenadine, or the jar liquid from maraschino cherries for the cherry flavor.

Fill the chilled serving glass with the cubed ice (about 1 cup). Leave a little headspace at the top for mixing.

If making a non-alcoholic Cherry Coke: Pour 8 oz chilled cola over the ice.

If making the cocktail version: Add 1.5 oz bourbon or dark rum to the glass, then pour 6.5–7 oz chilled cola to total roughly 8 oz of liquid with spirit included.

Add 0.5 oz maraschino cherry juice or cherry syrup to the cola. This adds the cherry flavor and slight sweetness. If you prefer a brighter cherry note, use 0.5 oz; for subtler flavor use 0.25–0.4 oz.

Add 0.25 oz fresh lime juice to lift and balance the sweetness. Stir gently with a bar spoon or long spoon for 8–10 seconds to combine without flattening the carbonation excessively.

Taste and adjust: if you want it sweeter, add up to 0.25 oz more cherry syrup. If it’s too sweet, add a few drops more lime juice or a splash (0.25 oz) of soda water to cut sweetness.

Garnish with 2 maraschino cherries (skewer on a cocktail pick if desired) and an optional lime wheel on the rim. Serve immediately with a straw.

To make a diet-friendly version use diet cola and reduce or omit added cherry syrup; muddle one maraschino cherry in the glass for natural cherry flavor.

For a more natural cherry flavor, substitute 0.5 oz fresh tart cherry juice or concentrate for the maraschino syrup and adjust sweetness with simple syrup to taste.