7 Cherry Cocktails for Christmas

Cherry is a very Australian festive flavour, with bowls of the ripe fruit a memory for most Aussie kids around Christmas time. Now that we're older though, there's a lot more we can do with cherries than make pretend earrings. To translate this flavour into cocktails you'll need to grab yourself a bottle of Cherry Heering liqueur, a shaker and possibly pop on a Chrissy album to get you feeling festive.

Heering Cola

Glass: Collins
Garnish: Lime wedge
How to make: POUR ingredients into ice-filled glass and gently stir.
60ml Heering Cherry Liqueur
Chilled cola

We say: We're starting off with a super-simple, but very delicious, serve of cherry and cola. It's a winning combo that's refreshing, full of stewed cherry flavour, almond and a balancing fruit tartness. One for get-togethers where you're all grazing on salty snacks and cheese.

Christmas Cheer-Re

Glass: Coupe
Garnish: Orange zest twist (discarded) & maraschino cherry
How to make: STIR all ingredients with ice and strain into glass.
30ml Heering Cherry liqueur
30ml Oude genever
30ml Barolo Chinato
15ml Gin
7.5 ml Maraschino liqueur
2 dash Orange bitters

We say: It's in the name really, with genever giving us a yuletide spirit base, sweetened and flavoured by the all-important star of the show cherry liqueur. Chinato dries it out and adds wine notes while gin adds freshness and botanical complexity. Maraschino and orange bitters complete this festive tipple. A little bit more complex, but then isn't every dish and drink at Christmas?

Cherry Mojito

Glass: Collins
Garnish: Mint leaves
How to make: Lightly MUDDLE mint in base of glass (just to bruise). Add next three ingredients and STIR before filling glass with ice. TOP with soda.
8 fresh mint leaves
20ml Heering Cherry liqueur
20ml lime juice (freshly squeezed)
10ml Monin Pure Cane sugar syrup
Top up with soda water

We say: The mojito gets a Christmas makeover. Cherry and mint are brilliant bedfellows in this bright and refreshing drink - a perfect start and end to long chrissy lunches with friends.

Beautiful Lady

Glass: Collins
Garnish: Grated chocolate
How to make: STIR first 2 ingredients with ice and strain into chilled glass. FLOAT thin layer of lightly whipped cream.
45ml Chocolate Spirit
22.5ml Heering Cherry liqueur
Float Single cream / half-and-half

We say: This dessert-style drink with cherry and chocolate combined under a layer of cream may be reminiscent of a black forest gateau, but the use of chocolate spirit rather than liqueur means it's not too sweet. End your feasts with one of these for an adult twist on cherry chocolate.

Cherry Espresso Martini

Glass: Coupe
Garnish: Maraschino cherry
How to make: SHAKE all ingredients with ice and fine strain into chilled glass.
50ml vodka
30ml espresso coffee (freshly made and hot)
20ml Heering Cherry liqueur

We say: This super-tasty twist on the classic Espresso Martini combines the stewed plum and cherry jam notes we find in Cherry Heering with coffee's own cherry notes and roasted, chocolatey profile.

Cherry Margarita

Glass: Rocks
Garnish: Salted rum and lime slices
How to make: SHAKE all ingredients with ice and fine strain into an ice-filled glass.
50ml Reposado tequila
20ml Heering Cherry liqueur
20ml fresh lime juice

We say: Replacing the triple sec with Cherry Heering liqueur gives you this sensational (and seasonally appropriate) Cherry Marg. There’s a savoury, lightly toasty oak mixed with the stewed plum and cherry notes palate going on here making a perfect pairing for roasts and salty meats like ham. Hello Christmas Day.

Black Forest Sour

Glass: Rocks
Garnish: Lemon zest twist
How to make: SHAKE all ingredients with ice and strain back into shaker. DRY SHAKE (without ice) and pour into ice-filled glass.
40ml Jägermeister
15ml Heering Cherry liqueur
10ml Pineapple juice (fresh pressed)
20ml Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
10ml Monin Pure Cane sugar syrup
15ml Pasteurised egg white

We say: Beautifully balanced with complex herbal, berry, pineapple and citrus flavours. Everyone loves a sour and no doubt everyone will love this unusual but Christmassy take on the classic.