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Easy Cherry Vodka Sour Recipe

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This Cherry Vodka Sour recipe is sweet, tart and totally delicious with just 3-ingredients. If you love easy vodka recipes, this one with a bright pink color is perfect to serve for girl’s nights, bridal showers, or any cocktail party. Best of all, it’s ready in under 5 minutes.

Pink cocktail in a glass with a lemon garnish on a table.
Let’s make this Cherry Vodka Sour recipe with fresh lemon and grenadine.

Why You’ll Love This Vodka Sour

This Cherry Vodka Sour takes just a few minutes to make and you only need a cocktail shaker. It doesn’t use egg whites which can be daunting to beginning cocktail makers (and me!).

The fun bright pink drink color is fun to sip and serve and the yummy taste will always please a crowd.

I love to make cocktails at home. I especially love to make easy recipes that use just a few ingredients but taste amazing. This Cherry vodka sour uses grenadine in place of a cherry simple syrup to keep things super basic.

Related: Slushie Vodka Sunrise

If you also love to make quick and easy cocktail recipes that don’t require any special skills or fancy mixologist tricks, this vodka sour recipe is perfect for you.

I jazzed up a classic vodka sour with cherry flavor. The tartness from fresh lemon juice pairs with the sweet grenadine and keeps the flavors from being too sweet.

It’s an easy drink to serve for all your parties or any time you need a tasty vodka cocktail.

Ingredient Notes

Labeled ingredients to make a cherry vodka sour recipe.
What you need to make this cherry vodka drink.

You can use any type of vodka in this recipe. I had Smirnoff in my cupboard so I grabbed it. But if you have a favorite brand you can use that.

My rule of thumb for choosing liquor is to pick something that you would tolerate drinking on its own. I don’t suggest you break the bank, but also don’t choose something that is just terrible.

Fresh lemon juice is essential. It cuts through the sweetness of the cherry grenadine syrup and is the perfect sour component for this recipe.

Bottled lemon juice would not be the same. And you wouldn’t want to use pre-bought sour mix since that has sweetness included and it would be entirely too sweet with the grenadine. You could use lime juice for a slightly different flavor. It would kind of taste like a cherry limeade.

I used grenadine to keep things super easy and get that familiar sweet cherry flavor but there are a few other ways you can get cherry flavor into a cocktail. You can make a cherry simple syrup (I would go easy on the sugar to make it a little less sweet – here you can use fresh or frozen cherries), or you can use tart cherry juice (with a super subtle cherry flavor).

Be sure to scroll down to the printable recipe card for the full recipe and ingredient list.

How to Make a Cherry Vodka Sour

I like to provide step-by-step instructions so you can easily recreate these cocktails at home. I realize that some people won’t need this much detail but I like to put it just in case.

Pouring vodka into a cocktail shaker.

Step 1

To a cocktail shaker, add the vodka.

Adding grenadine to a cocktail shaker.

Step 2

Add the grenadine.

Adding lemon juice to a cocktail shaker.

Step 3

Add the fresh lemon juice.

Adding ice to a cocktail shaker.

Step 4

Add ice cubes to the cocktail shaker.

Woman shaking a cocktail in a cocktail shaker.

Step 5

Shake well.

Step 6

Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon wedge or slice.

NOTE: A classic garnish for a sour is a cherry (we love Luxardo cherries over here!) but in this case, since the drink is so sweet I went with a lemon garnish instead.

You can add ice cubes to your cocktail glass or not.

You could also rim the glass with a sugar rim if you prefer. Since it’s already very sweet, it might push you over the edge if you aren’t into super sweet things.

Tips and Tricks

  • To get the most juice out of your lemon, you can use my favorite citrus squeezer. If the lemon feels hard to start, you can microwave it for about 10 seconds then roll it on the counter, pressing down with the heel of your hand.
  • Want to go a little lighter on the liquor? You can cut it back to 1 ounce or an ounce and a half if you prefer.
  • You can easily make this into a larger batch. Just change the serving amounts in the recipe card.

Variations


  • Flavored Vodka – You can use cherry vodka or another flavor in this recipe if you prefer.
  • Sour Mix – You can use sour mix in place of the lemon juice if you prefer but I only use fresh lemon juice when I make this because it gives it a much better flavor.
  • Other Liquor – Sour cocktails are a classic drink idea and work with any type of liquor. So if you like whiskey or tequila better, swap that in! Amaretto Sour anyone?
  • Fizzy – This would also be delicious topped with a splash of club soda to make it a little fizzy.
  • Traditional – You can make this with egg white if you prefer to keep things super classic. You’ll just do a dry shake with the egg whites.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you make your own sour mix?

Yes. You can make your own sour mix if you prefer, however, sour mix is fresh lemon and simple syrup. I think that is too sweet when paired with the grenadine. But if you like things really sweet, you can use homemade sour mix.

What glass do I use for a Cherry Vodka Sour Cocktail?

Sour cocktails are served in a variety of glassware like rocks glass or Old Fashioned glass. But I’ve also seen them served in a collins glass. I served mine in a stemless margarita glass because I think they look cool. Coupe glasses are always elegant. I’m a big proponent of using what you already have.

What vodka should I use?

Use your favorite vodka. If you don’t have a brand that you prefer, I suggest Tito’s. It’s a great value and delicious taste.

Can you use maraschino cherry juice instead of grenadine?

Yes, you can use the maraschino cherry juice from a jar of cherries. You could also try pomegranate juice with simple syrup.

A glass on a cloth napkin on a table with a bright pink cocktail in it.

This easy Cherry Vodka Sour recipe is tangy and sweet and a fun cocktail to serve whenever you want a fun drink.

More Cherry Drinks

More Sour Cocktails

Cocktail glass with a bright pink cocktail and lemon garnish on a pink and white napkin.

Cherry Vodka Sour Recipe

This 3-ingredient Cherry Vodka Sour recipe is quick and easy and full of sweet and tangy flavor! The bright pink color makes this a perfect party cocktail.
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: cocktails
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Calories: 110kcal
Servings: 1 cocktail

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • To a cocktail shaker, add the vodka, grenadine and lemon juice.
  • Shake well.
  • Stain into a cocktail glass.
  • Garnish and enjoy!

Notes

  • To get the most juice out of your lemon, you can use my favorite citrus squeezer. If the lemon feels hard to start, you can microwave it for about 10 seconds then roll it on the counter, pressing down with the heel of your hand.
  • You can use something other than vodka for this recipe! A Whiskey Sour is also a popular drink idea. And don’t forget an Amaretto Sour.
  • Want to go a little lighter on the liquor? You can cut it back to 1 ounce or an ounce and half if you prefer.
  • This would also be delicious topped with a splash of club soda to make it a little fizzy.
  • You can easily make this into a larger batch. Just change the serving amounts in the recipe card above.
  • You can serve this drink over ice if you prefer. 
  • Rim the cocktail glass in sugar before adding the drink for an extra fun (and extra sweet) presentation. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1drink | Calories: 110kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 33mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.03mg
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5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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