Few holidays beat a day-long nationwide celebration of chocolate and cherry co-mingling as one in a decadent dessert with a fairy tale name.
Pinch us. Today is National Black Forest Cake Day.
Have a cherry chocolate cocktail (see below), and call it a warm-up exercise for Sunday, April 1st — the launch of new Grey Goose Cherry Noir.
“Cultivated from rare black cherries found in the French Basque Country, Grey Goose Cherry Noir combines the aroma of fresh cherries and sweet red fruits with dark fruit flavors and layers of spice. The result: a sophisticated, sensuous flavored vodka and exceptional complement to any night.”
This press release had us at “cultivated.”
Expect a vibrant nose with aromas of sweet red fruits plus a hint of sweet spices, watermelon, raspberry and banana…and, what else, a cherry on top.
Cherry Chocolate Bomb
- 1/2 oz white crème de cacao
- 1/2 oz cream
- 1/2 oz grenadine syrup
Layer this drink: grenadine, then the cacao, then the cream. Shoot. Tastes just like a chocolate covered cherry.
Cherry Chocolate Cocktail
- 5 fresh cherries, pitted
- 3 sprigs fresh mint
- 1 ½ ozs chocolate vodka
- ¼ oz lime juice
- ¼ oz simple syrup
- Spritz of club soda
Chocolate Covered Cherry
- ½ oz Kahlua
- ½ oz Amaretto
- ½ oz White crème de cacao
- Dash Grenadine Syrup
In a cocktail shaker, muddle the cherries with the mint leaves. Add remaining ingredients with ice and shake well. Stir in a touch of club soda, about ¼ ounce. Use a julep strainer to strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish as desired and serve.
Cherry Collins
- 2 parts GREY GOOSE Cherry Noir
- ¾ Parts Fresh Lemon Juice
- ¾ Parts Simple Syrup
- Splash Club Soda
Fill glass slightly above rim with cubed ice. Pour ingredients in order listed to 1/2 inch from top of glass and stir. Add soda straw and garnish with a cherry.
The sour is a classic cocktail, and the key to making a great one is using fresh-squeezed lemon juice and simple syrup, rather than pre-prepared sour mix.