Ingredients
- 2 oz Cherry Brandy
- .5 oz Lemon Juice
- Mineral Water
Instructions
Shake Ingredients:
- In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add 2 oz cherry brandy and ½ oz lemon juice. Shake well.
Strain:
- Strain the mixture into a highball glass filled with ice.
Top with Water:
- Top the drink with mineral water or soda water, depending on your preference.
Garnish:
- Garnish with a cherry.
Serve and Enjoy:
- Serve immediately and enjoy the sweet and strong flavors of your Cherry Fizz Cocktail!
Notes
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
Fizz cocktails have a long history, dating back to the late 19th century. Drinks combining a spirit, citrus, sugar, and soda water were popular for their refreshing qualities. While the specific origin of the Cherry Fizz Cocktail is hard to pin down, it likely emerged from the general popularity of fruit-flavored brandies and the fizz format in the early to mid 20th century. It is a classic for home bartenders and casual bar settings.
This drink sits squarely in the Fizz family, a broad category that includes classics like the Gin Fizz and Ramos Gin Fizz. It is a simpler cousin to drinks like the Tom Collins, where the base spirit is lightened and lengthened with soda. What sets the Cherry Fizz apart is its reliance on a fruit brandy for its primary flavor, rather than a neutral spirit, making it distinctly sweet and fruity.
You would find a Cherry Fizz Cocktail at a casual neighborhood bar, a summer patio gathering, or a backyard barbecue. It is a no-frills, crowd-pleasing drink that does not demand a craft cocktail setting. It is the kind of drink you mix up when you want something tasty and easy to drink on a warm afternoon.
What it tastes like
The Cherry Fizz Cocktail hits you upfront with a bold, sweet cherry flavor from the brandy. That sweetness is quickly cut by the tartness of fresh lemon juice, providing a necessary balance in the mid palate. The mineral water then lightens the whole affair, leading to a clean, effervescent finish that leaves a lingering, pleasant cherry note.
With 2 oz of a standard 35-40 ABV cherry brandy, this drink packs a decent punch. Assuming a 35 ABV brandy, you are looking at around 0.7 oz of pure alcohol. That makes it roughly equivalent to a strong beer or a light standard cocktail, depending on how much you top it with water. It is not a session drink, but it is not a knockout either.
The technique
Building a Cherry Fizz is straightforward. Combine your cherry brandy and fresh lemon juice in a shaker with plenty of ice. Give it a good, hard shake for about 10-15 seconds to chill and properly integrate the ingredients. Strain the mixture into a highball glass already filled with fresh ice. Finish it off by topping with mineral or soda water and a cherry garnish.
The key here is using fresh lemon juice. Bottled lemon juice will give you a flat, artificial sourness that completely ruins the balance of the drink. Fresh citrus provides brightness and a natural acidity that cuts through the sweetness of the cherry brandy, making the drink refreshing instead of cloying. Skip it, and you are just drinking boozy cherry syrup.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
Cherry Brandy
- Use
- A good quality cherry brandy, like Bols Cherry Brandy or Cherry Heering, is essential. These are typically around 24-40 ABV and provide a rich, authentic cherry flavor.
- Skip
- Cherry liqueur or cherry syrup that is too sweet or artificial tasting. Avoid anything that feels like cough medicine. Do not use plain brandy with a splash of cherry juice.
- Why
- This is the absolute star of the show. Its flavor defines the drink. Without a good cherry brandy, it is just another fizz.
Lemon Juice
- Use
- Always use fresh squeezed lemon juice. One medium lemon usually yields about 1 oz of juice.
- Skip
- Bottled lemon juice. It lacks the essential brightness and natural acidity needed to balance the sweetness of the cherry brandy.
- Why
- Lemon juice provides the crucial tart counterpoint to the cherry brandy’s sweetness. It brightens the drink and prevents it from becoming overly syrupy.
Three Variations
Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.
Cherry Gin Fizz
- A botanical twist.
- Swap the cherry brandy for a London Dry Gin and add a bar spoon of cherry syrup or a dash of cherry bitters for a drier, more complex flavor profile.
Dark Cherry Fizz
- Deeper, richer notes.
- Use a darker, more intense cherry liqueur like Cherry Heering, and consider a splash of Angostura bitters to add depth and spice.
Cherry Lime Fizz
- Zesty and bright.
- Replace the lemon juice with fresh lime juice for a sharper, more piquant citrus kick that complements the cherry wonderfully.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Try 1.5 oz regular brandy or vodka with 0.5 oz quality cherry liqueur or cherry syrup, understanding it will be sweeter.
Fresh lime juice works well, offering a slightly different but still refreshing tartness.
Soda water or seltzer is a perfect substitute, providing the same effervescence.
A pint glass or any tall glass will do the job. Presentation might suffer, but the drink will taste the same.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Cherry Fizz Cocktail?
A Cherry Fizz Cocktail contains cherry brandy, fresh lemon juice, and is topped with mineral or soda water. It is often garnished with a cherry.
Is Cherry Fizz sweet?
Yes, the Cherry Fizz Cocktail is on the sweeter side due to the cherry brandy, but the lemon juice provides a tart balance.
What kind of cherry brandy should I use?
Opt for a quality cherry brandy like Bols Cherry Brandy or Cherry Heering for the best flavor. Avoid overly sweet or artificial tasting options.
Can I make a non-alcoholic Cherry Fizz?
Absolutely. Use cherry syrup or non-alcoholic cherry liqueur, fresh lemon juice, and top with mineral water or soda.
What is the best garnish for a Cherry Fizz?
A fresh or maraschino cherry is the classic garnish, adding a visual appeal and a hint of extra cherry flavor.
Is a Cherry Fizz a strong drink?
It has a moderate strength, similar to a strong beer or a standard cocktail, depending on the cherry brandy’s ABV and how much water you add.
What is the difference between mineral water and soda water?
Mineral water is naturally carbonated or has CO2 added, often with a distinct mineral taste. Soda water, or club soda, is carbonated water with added minerals like sodium bicarbonate to enhance flavor. Either works well here.
Can I batch Cherry Fizz for a party?
You can pre-mix the cherry brandy and lemon juice. Keep it chilled and add ice and soda water to individual servings just before serving to maintain fizz.
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