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A beautiful summer cocktail, Valentine’s Day beverage or party drink, this black cherry vanilla vodka sour is a wonderful mixed drink. It’s a sour cocktail, similar to a whiskey or amaretto sour, so if you like that kind of flavor, try this classic vodka sour. It’s easy to make but has an impressive presentation with the creamy, frothy topping. The fruity cherry, lemon and grenadine flavors pair beautifully with the vanilla vodka and foamy egg white topping.
Sip on something sweet and sour with this black cherry vanilla vodka sour cocktail—a perfect blend of ripe cherry flavor and tangy citrus, sure to be a hit at any party.
If you love trying new cocktails, also consider cottontail margaritas, mango berry white wine sangria or perhaps whiskey peanut butter shots.
Why You’ll Love It
It’s beautifully balanced: Sweet cherry, tangy lemon and smooth vanilla vodka make every sip feel luxurious.
It’s eye-catching: This cocktail’s vibrant red hue and frothy top layer make it perfect for impressing guests.
It’s surprisingly simple: With just a few ingredients and a quick shake, you’ll have a stunning drink ready in minutes.
Black Cherry Sour Cocktail Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Vanilla vodka: Adds a warm, creamy base note with a smooth vanilla flavor.
Grenadine: Contributes sweetness and a rich ruby color.
Black cherry juice: Offers bold, fruity depth and enhances the cherry profile.
Lemon juice: Provides tartness and balance to the sweet ingredients.
Egg white: Creates a silky texture and foamy top layer for a pro-style finish. I recommend that you check the product carton to ensure your egg whites have been pasteurized for safety. For this recipe, I used Bob Evans’ 100% Egg Whites.
Lemon slice and cherry: Classic garnishes that enhance visual appeal and echo the flavors.
How to Make a Cherry Vodka Sour Cocktail
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Make the cocktail base: Add vanilla vodka, grenadine, black cherry juice, lemon juice, and egg white to a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously until frothy.
Chill and serve: Add ice and shake again until well-chilled. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon slice and cherry.
Substitutions and Variations
Swap the vodka: Use regular plain vodka if you don’t have vanilla—just add a few drops of vanilla extract instead.
Go egg-free: Omit the egg white for a simpler drink without the foam top.
Cherry juice: Substitute in a splash of cherry liqueur for extra depth and boozy sweetness.
Serving Suggestions
With a snack: Enjoy some garlic cheese twists paired with a dirty martini dip.
With other drinks: Hosting a party? Also whip up a sour candy cocktail or make some sweet tart shots. Other ideas include this apple pie à la mode or this lavender lemon drop martini.
How to Store Vanilla Vodka Sours
Store: These cocktails are best served freshly prepared but leftovers will keep for a couple of days in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Shake well before serving in case the ingredients have started to separate.
Top Tips
Shake twice: Dry-shaking the ingredients before adding ice helps emulsify the egg white and gives you that perfect froth.
Use fresh lemon juice: It brightens the drink and balances the sweetness better than bottled juice.
Chill your glass: A cold glass helps the cocktail stay perfectly chilled from first sip to last.
Use the right glass: A coupe or martini glass works beautifully for this elegant cocktail.
Cherry Vodka Sour FAQs
You will see the egg in this cherry vodka sour cocktail is an optional ingredient since some people prefer not to consume raw egg in any form. You can use aquafaba instead of egg white, which is the liquid from a can of garbanzo beans (chickpeas). Sub it in measure for measure. I know that sounds strange but trust me, it works and you won’t taste it in the finished cherry alcoholic drinks. You can even make egg-free vegan meringues with aquafaba – yes, really! If you are using egg whites, by the way, it’s important to ensure you’re using pasteurized egg whites in this summer cocktail, so you can be sure they’re safe to consume.
Shaking a cocktail rather than stirring it will both blend the ingredients together and chill it, if you’re shaking it with ice cubes. Also, a good rule of thumb is that any cocktail that includes citrus should be shaken not stirred. The reason for this is shaking it livens up the lemon or lime flavor and you get a better end result. For a sour recipe, such as this vodka sour or a whiskey sour, the egg white is in there to create a white foam on top. For this reason, give it at least 30 seconds of shaking to incorporate tiny air bubbles in the mix, so your fruity cocktails will have that nice white foam topping.
Whiskey sours date back to the 1860s. Before that, however, British Royal Navy sailors were drinking spirits with lemon juice or lime juice (to help prevent scurvy from lack of Vitamin C) as well as water and sugar. The usual spirit was called ‘grog’ which is a rum-based liquor made from sugarcane. The original recipe from the 1800s, served in bars, called for bourbon or rye whiskey, lemon juice and white sugar dissolved in seltzer water or another kind of sparkling water. The sour cocktail recipe with vodka is a modern take on both grog and the original whiskey sour. Many people prefer vodka to other spirits because of its subtle flavor. Angostura bitters are a traditional ingredient in a sour cocktail.
Black Cherry Vodka Sour Recipe
Black Cherry Vanilla Vodka Sour
Ingredients
- 1½ Ounces vodka, vanilla, such as Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka
- 1 Ounce grenadine
- 1 Ounce black cherry juice
- 3/4 Ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- ½ Ounce egg white, pasteurized, optional
- ice
Optional Garnishes:
- 1 Slice lemon
- 1 maraschino cherry
Instructions
- To a cocktail shaker, add vanilla vodka, grenadine, black cherry juice, lemon juice, and egg white. Shake until frothy (about 30 seconds).
- Add ice to cocktail shaker. Shake contents for 15 to 20 seconds, or until chilled throughout. Pour into glass.
- Garnish with a lemon wheel and/or a cocktail cherry, if desired.
Notes
Use fresh lemon juice: It brightens the drink and balances the sweetness better than bottled juice.
Chill your glass: A cold glass helps the cocktail stay perfectly chilled from first sip to last.
Use the right glass: A coupe or martini glass works beautifully for this elegant cocktail.
Nutrition
This cherry cocktail made with vanilla vodka, grenadine and black cherry juice is a nice choice if you want to try a different summer cocktail recipe. It’s simple to put together and the foamy topping looks so pretty on top of the deep red coloured drink. The lemon and cocktail cherry garnish are also elegant and add a beautiful finishing touch to this gorgeous summer drink.
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
The perfect Valentine’s Day cocktail. We tried it and we loved it!
As a former bartender always looking to shake things up and try new stuff, this was simply DELISH and went over SO HUGE at a recent get together with friends! Thank you for this tasty drink recipe, sweetie!
Wow! This drink tasted amazing. It’s my new favorite cocktail to have for dessert.
I love sour drinks and this was very impressive and flavorful! My guests loved it. I’ll surely have this again, thanks Bella!
This was like a cherry party in my mouth! I need to order extra black cherry juice next time because I couldn’t make them quick enough for my friends!
This looks delish!