A rum and lime flavored cocktail, the tart and tangy Cherry Bomb is a deep red delight.
When I was a young pre-teen, all awkward with big feet, gangly limbs and thick glasses, I was a pretty easy target for bullies. Especially since I was an Army Brat and always the new kid, getting picked on and beaten up seemed like part of my academic schedule. What does this have to do with cocktails? Well, I went to junior high in Georgia, and while some of my much older classmates loved a little Ripple from time to time, that’s not where I’m going with this. It was an interesting time, so hang on.
One thing I learned not to do while surviving in the wilds of a small-town middle school, was to use the bathroom. As uncomfortable as that sounded, it was my safest bet to return home from the day unscathed. Even when you had a hall pass and thought you might have the place to yourself during classes, puffs of cigarette smoke would waft from the boy’s room anyway, and if you ventured too close or just couldn’t hold it, you got caught. Swirlies, atomic wedgies, and of course, the dreaded rear-admiral… which sometimes sent a kid home with a note from the nurse.
One day, I got lucky and found a restroom completely empty, so I parked myself in one of the stalls, hoping for the best. Moments later, a toilet flushed a few feet down and I heard a loud cry of “CHERRY BOMB!” Needless to say, every commode exploded like they were fire hoses, instantly becoming bidets that almost launched me over the door and onto the floor. Mercifully, the day was almost over, and I didn’t have to spend the rest of it drenched in toilet water.
Tonight’s drink is a, shall we say, drier, and much tastier version of the aforementioned prank, the Cherry Bomb. Rum, lime juice, lemon-lime soda and grenadine all come together to create a red, lush and tangy tipple. Whenever I’ve had one, I’m reminded of that fateful day back in junior high, and grateful that I graduated.
What Is The Best Rum To Use In A Cherry Bomb Drink?
It’s best to go for a clear rum, like a Bacardi Silver or Havana Club, that’ll meld in a balanced, tasty way with the lime and grenadine. If you want a stronger drink with a lot of bite, a bottle of Wray & Nephew, an overproof Jamaican white rum, will give your Cherry Bomb some extra power, as well as a deliciously funky finish.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces chilled lime soda
- 1 1/2 ounces rum
- 1 ounce grenadine syrup
- 1/2 ounce lime juice
- 1 lime wheel for garnish
- 1 maraschino cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add the chilled lime soda, rum, grenadine syrup, and lime juice. Stir gently to mix.
- Pour into a chilled rocks glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with a lime wheel and a maraschino cherry.
Nutrition
WHAT GLASSWARE AND GARNISH ARE USED?
A rocks glass filled with fresh, clear cocktail ice cubes will keep your Cherry Bomb cold and sippable. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and a lime wheel to complete the look.
CAN THIS COCKTAIL BE SHAKEN?
Combine everything except the soda and shake that, then top it off with the lemon-lime fizz for a frothier version of this recipe.
Similar Cocktails To The Cherry Bomb
Rum and lime juice are meant for each other. For hundreds of years, theirs has been a happy marriage, with a romance that started on the Caribbean seas. Over the following decades, what once was a medicinal elixir that helped sailors fight off scurvy evolved into a favorite libation of authors, adventurers and regular folks on vacation. Check a few of these recipes out if you’d like to discover more of the joys of this lovely couple.
- Bacardí Cocktail – Close to a Cherry Bomb, without the soda, and served up.
- Cuba Libre – Rum, cola and lime juice make this tart and refreshing tipple.
- Daiquiri – This classic always hits the spot, with a perfect balance of rum, lime juice and simple syrup.
- Navy Grog – Three kinds of rum join with lime juice, grapefruit juice and honey syrup for a powerful potion.
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