I’m sharing my Spiked Cherry Limeade, made with just six ingredients and ready in ten minutes for a party pitcher that easily converts to a mocktail.

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I make Spiked Cherry Limeade when I want something bright for a party. This Cherry Lime Cocktail tastes like summer in a glass with a cheeky kick.

Vodka and maraschino cherries give it that deep cherry pop while lime juice keeps it sharp and oddly refreshing. Guests always ask where I got it, like it’s from a fancy bar, and I pretend it’s complicated but it’s not.

You can easily make a mocktail version and nobody will care. It’s loud, fun, a little addictive, and exactly the kind of pitcher I bring when I want people to linger.

Ingredients

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Vodka or sparkling water: Vodka gives boozy warmth and clean calories, sparkling water keeps the drink light though.
Maraschino cherries: Sweet, bright cherries add candy like sweetness, a pop of neon color, and fun.
Cherry syrup or juice: Syrup boosts sweetness fast, brings deep color, and a heavy cherry sugar hit.
Fresh lime juice: Sharp tart lime juice gives sour backbone, acidity brightens flavors and wakes tastebuds.
Simple syrup: Balances the tart, dissolves instantly, adds smooth sweetness with no grainy texture.
Club soda or lemon lime soda: Carbonation lifts and lengthens flavor, soda makes it fizzy, light and refreshing.
Ice and garnishes: Ice chills, dilutes a touch for balance, lime wheels and cherries finish it.

Ingredient Quantities

2 cups (16 fl oz) vodka, or for a mocktail use 2 cups sparkling water or extra club soda

1 cup maraschino cherries, plus 1/2 cup of the jar syrup or a good cherry juice

1 cup fresh squeezed lime juice, about 8 to 10 limes

3/4 cup simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water), add more if you like it sweeter

2 to 3 cups chilled club soda or lemon lime soda to top it off

Ice, extra lime wheels and extra maraschino cherries for garnish

How to Make this

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1. Chill everything first if you can — a cold pitcher and chilled club soda or lemon lime soda make the cocktail brighter and less watery when served.

2. Put 1 cup maraschino cherries and 1/2 cup of the jar syrup (or good cherry juice) into a blender or large bowl. If you like texture, muddle the cherries with a wooden spoon instead of blending.

3. Puree or mash cherries until mostly broken down. For a smooth drink, blitz in the blender and strain through a fine mesh to remove big bits; for a more rustic drink keep the pulp.

4. In the pitcher add 2 cups (16 fl oz) vodka (or for a mocktail use 2 cups sparkling water or extra club soda), the strained or mashed cherries and syrup, 1 cup fresh squeezed lime juice (about 8 to 10 limes), and 3/4 cup simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water). Stir well to combine.

5. Taste and adjust sweetness or tartness — add a little more simple syrup if you want it sweeter, or another squeeze of lime if it needs more bite.

6. Let the mixture sit in the fridge 5 to 10 minutes if you have time so the flavors marry. Its not required but it helps.

7. When ready to serve, add ice to a pitcher or fill individual glasses with ice. Pour the cherry lime mixture into the glasses or pitcher until about three quarters full.

8. Top with 2 to 3 cups chilled club soda or lemon lime soda to add fizz — use 2 cups for a stronger boozy flavor, 3 cups if you want it lighter or making a mocktail. Stir gently to combine.

9. Garnish with extra lime wheels and maraschino cherries, serve immediately.

10. Make ahead tip: keep the cherry lime base (without soda or ice) refrigerated up to 48 hours; add soda and ice right before serving so it stays fizzy.

Equipment Needed

1. Large chilled pitcher or drink dispenser, it helps keep the cocktail bright and not watery
2. Blender, or a large bowl plus a wooden spoon for muddling if you dont want it totally smooth
3. Fine mesh strainer for a silky, pulp free version
4. Citrus juicer or handheld reamer to get juice from 8 to 10 limes
5. Measuring cups, measuring spoons and a jigger for the vodka or sparkling water
6. Long mixing spoon or paddle to stir everything well
7. Ice scoop or tongs and a bowl or bucket for the ice
8. Glasses for serving plus small picks or cocktail forks for lime wheels and cherries, optional but nice, its great for presentation

FAQ

Can I make this nonalcoholic? Yes, replace the vodka with 2 cups sparkling water or extra club soda and boost cherry syrup a bit because alcohol carries flavor.

How long can I store the mix? The cherry-lime base (without soda) will keep in the fridge for 3 to 4 days in a sealed container. Add soda right before serving.

Can I use fresh cherries instead of maraschino? Yes, pit and puree or simmer fresh cherries with a little sugar to release juices. Frozen cherries work fine too, just thaw first.

It’s too sweet, how do I fix it? Add more lime juice or top with extra club soda. Reduce the simple syrup next time, or use less jar syrup from the cherries.

What’s the alcohol amount per serving? If you divide this batch into 8 servings you get about 2 ounces of vodka per drink, which is a normal cocktail pour. Drink responsibly.

Cherry Lime Cocktail (spiked Cherry Limeade!) Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Vodka: swap with white rum for a sweeter, tropical vibe or blanco tequila for an agave kick. For non alcoholic try a nonalcoholic spirit or extra sparkling water.
Maraschino cherries + jar syrup: use fresh or frozen dark cherries simmered with a bit of sugar to make a quick cherry syrup, or substitute with good cherry juice or pomegranate grenadine for color and tart-sweet depth.
Fresh lime juice: lemon juice works if you want a milder citrus note, or try mixing lime with grapefruit juice for a slightly bitter twist. Bottled lime is ok in a pinch but won’t be as bright.
Simple syrup: swap for honey syrup (equal parts honey and warm water), agave nectar, or even maple syrup for a richer flavor; grenadine will sweeten and add color but will change the profile.

Pro Tips

– Chill everything first, seriously. Cold base and super cold soda keeps the drink bright and stops it turning into a watered down mess once the ice goes in.

– Decide on texture up front: blitz and strain for a smooth, pretty pour, or mash and leave the pulp if you want rustic mouthfeel and more cherry punch. Save a few whole cherries for garnish, they make it look way better.

– Tweak sweetness in small steps, dont dump a ton of syrup at once. Jar syrup is very sweet so add little by little, taste between additions, and use extra lime if it feels too sugary.

– Add the soda last and stir gently, not like you’re making a hurricane. Use chilled soda and serve right away so it stays fizzy. If you need a mocktail boost add a couple drops of nonalcoholic bitters or a splash of ginger beer for depth.

– Make the cherry-lime base ahead up to 48 hours, but keep it airtight and cold. For bigger cherry flavor macerate the cherries with a tablespoon of sugar for 30-60 minutes before blending, or freeze cherries into ice cubes so every sip stays cold without diluting.

Cherry Lime Cocktail (spiked Cherry Limeade!) Recipe

Recipe by Sam Ecclestone

0.0 from 0 votes

I’m sharing my Spiked Cherry Limeade, made with just six ingredients and ready in ten minutes for a party pitcher that easily converts to a mocktail.

Servings

servings

Calories

384

kcal

Equipment: 1. Large chilled pitcher or drink dispenser, it helps keep the cocktail bright and not watery
2. Blender, or a large bowl plus a wooden spoon for muddling if you dont want it totally smooth
3. Fine mesh strainer for a silky, pulp free version
4. Citrus juicer or handheld reamer to get juice from 8 to 10 limes
5. Measuring cups, measuring spoons and a jigger for the vodka or sparkling water
6. Long mixing spoon or paddle to stir everything well
7. Ice scoop or tongs and a bowl or bucket for the ice
8. Glasses for serving plus small picks or cocktail forks for lime wheels and cherries, optional but nice, its great for presentation

Ingredients

2 cups (16 fl oz) vodka, or for a mocktail use 2 cups sparkling water or extra club soda
1 cup maraschino cherries, plus 1/2 cup of the jar syrup or a good cherry juice
1 cup fresh squeezed lime juice, about 8 to 10 limes
3/4 cup simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water), add more if you like it sweeter
2 to 3 cups chilled club soda or lemon lime soda to top it off
Ice, extra lime wheels and extra maraschino cherries for garnish

Directions

Chill everything first if you can — a cold pitcher and chilled club soda or lemon lime soda make the cocktail brighter and less watery when served.
Put 1 cup maraschino cherries and 1/2 cup of the jar syrup (or good cherry juice) into a blender or large bowl. If you like texture, muddle the cherries with a wooden spoon instead of blending.
Puree or mash cherries until mostly broken down. For a smooth drink, blitz in the blender and strain through a fine mesh to remove big bits; for a more rustic drink keep the pulp.
In the pitcher add 2 cups (16 fl oz) vodka (or for a mocktail use 2 cups sparkling water or extra club soda), the strained or mashed cherries and syrup, 1 cup fresh squeezed lime juice (about 8 to 10 limes), and 3/4 cup simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water). Stir well to combine.
Taste and adjust sweetness or tartness — add a little more simple syrup if you want it sweeter, or another squeeze of lime if it needs more bite.
Let the mixture sit in the fridge 5 to 10 minutes if you have time so the flavors marry. Its not required but it helps.
When ready to serve, add ice to a pitcher or fill individual glasses with ice. Pour the cherry lime mixture into the glasses or pitcher until about three quarters full.
Top with 2 to 3 cups chilled club soda or lemon lime soda to add fizz — use 2 cups for a stronger boozy flavor, 3 cups if you want it lighter or making a mocktail. Stir gently to combine.
Garnish with extra lime wheels and maraschino cherries, serve immediately.
Make ahead tip: keep the cherry lime base (without soda or ice) refrigerated up to 48 hours; add soda and ice right before serving so it stays fizzy.

Notes

Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.