Why This Recipe Works

We wanted to have a little fun and create a thoroughly grown-up version of an icy treat to help recall thoughts of those simpler times. Starting with a full pound of frozen sweet cherries guaranteed strong, delicious cherry flavor while ensuring this cocktail wouldn't be seasonally dependent. The next step was deciding on the best liquor to use. Because the red-fruit flavor of cherries goes so well with the oaky, caramel-vanilla notes of bourbon (think about the old-fashioned or the Manhattan), this whiskey seemed like it would be the clearly favored choice for our adult slush, and that proved true in testing. (Tennessee whiskey was a close runner-up.) To add a touch of tartness to balance the rich flavors of the cherries and bourbon, we turned to frozen orange juice concentrate. The OJ boosted that fruity, fun flavor we've come to expect from traditional (that is, nonalcoholic) slush. For a more complex flavor profile, we added several drops of old-fashioned aromatic bitters. With every frosty sip, this Bourbon-Cherry Slush conjured up that familiar ice cream truck jingle and reminded us that, even as grown-ups, it's good to relax and enjoy lazy summers in the present.

Instructions

Add bourbon, orange juice concentrate, bitters, cherries, and ice to blender (in that order) and process until smooth, about 1 minute, scraping down sides of blender jar as needed. Pour into chilled old-fashioned glasses. Garnish with orange wedges and cocktail cherries and serve.