Cherry Sake And Soda
Andrea Potischman
May 8, 2020
Celebrate the good right now. Cherry season is among us! I’m in California, for me that means April through June. Cherries are something I have always loved, but I’m referring to the fresh ones. In fairness to cherries, the neon ones found in your Shirley Temples as a kid don’t count.
Truthfully, cherries are one of the most beloved fruits out there, and for good reason. Cherries are small stone fruits that come in a variety of colors and flavors. There are two major categories — tart and sweet cherries. Their colors can vary from yellow to deep blackish-red.
Juicy cherries are not only delicious, but they are also packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and plant compounds believed to have powerful health effects. I make a cherry smoothie and it is by far one of my favorites.
Health Benefits Of Cherries
- One cup (154 grams) of sweet, raw, pitted cherries has about 100 calories, 2 grams of protein, 25 grams of carbs, 3 grams of fiber, 18% of the daily value vitamin C, 10% DV of Potassium, 5% of the DV of copper and 5% DV of Manganese.
- Cherries are packed with antioxidants. Tart cherry juice and concentrate have been found to accelerate muscle recovery, decrease exercise-induced muscle pain, and enhance exercise performance.
- Cherries may help promote better sleep due to their high concentration of plant compounds. The melatonin in cherries also helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle.
- Cherries are packed with potassium and polyphenol antioxidants, which have powerful heart-protective properties.
- Due to their potent anti-inflammatory effects, cherries may reduce symptoms of arthritis and gout that can affect your joints.
With all those health benefits, I think we all need to find reasons to eat more cherries. With Mother’s Day this weekend, and cherry season in full swing, I felt a cherry-based cocktail was in order. As the title suggests, I pair sake, lemon, ginger liquor, and ginger ale to make this low-sugar, effervescent beauty and it does not disappoint one bit. If you typically skip over sake, this may be a real game-changer. If you can’t locate ginger liquor right now, no problem, try making your own until you can. Wishing a happy, safe, and healthy Mother’s Day to all those amazing mamas out there.
Cherry Sake And Soda
Ingredients:
- 6 fresh cherries, pitted
- 4 ounces dry Sake
- 1/2 ounce ginger liquor (I like Greenbar Distillery’s Fruitlab Ginger liquor)
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon agave
- Ginger ale
- Lemon wedge, for garnish
Directions:
- Place a good amount of ice in a low-ball class and set aside.
- Using a cocktail shaker, add the cherries. Use a muddler to muddle the cherries partially but not completely. Add the sake, ginger liquor, lemon juice, agave and a handful of ice, shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
- Double strain into the prepared glass, garnish with lemon wedge and serve. Note: you can add some of the muddled cherries to the final cocktail for a nice visual effect.
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