By Candice Walker on August 5, 2024 (Last updated February 19, 2026). This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
You can thank my mamanjoon for this tart and tangy Sour Cherry Infused Vodka. She made many different vodka infusions from the fruit they grew in their bagh (garden). Sour cherry was by far her favorite version, and the most popular. It’s easy, and takes 3-7 days until ready to imbibe.
The vodka turns a beautiful ruby-red color and I love to share it with friends when they come over. It also makes a unique gift!
🍒 What Sets the Taste of This Vodka Apart
Slow infusion of sweet cherries: The vodka slowly breaks down and absorbs all the tart and tangy cherry flavors, resulting in a completely custom drink. Vodka has little to no flavor by itself, so it’s a perfect vehicle to carry the sour cherry taste.
Customize the flavor: If you add the cherry seeds along with the cherries, it imparts a pleasant slightly almondy flavor to the vodka. You can decide if you want that added almondy flavor or not – you can always steep the pits separately if you can’t decide. Whether or not you leave them, still pit the cherries before adding them to the vodka.
Balanced sweetness and tanginess: This vodka has a satisfying balance of sweet and tart flavors, making it a perfect ingredient for cocktails and mocktails alike.
Here you can see where I’ve made a smaller infusion of just the cherry seeds with the vodka when I tested to see if the flavor of the seeds infuses better when pitted or as whole cherries actually makes a difference.
🧾 Ingredients in this recipe
Sour cherries: Use firm, unbruised sour cherries.
Plain vodka: Choose a vodka brand you know you like to drink as it is.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
👩🍳How to Make Sour Cherry Vodka
Pit the sour cherries with a cherry pitter or straw.
Wash the cherries using a small amount of vodka, then discard the vodka.
Put the cherries (and optional pits) into a sterilized bottle or container.
Pour in the vodka. Seal the bottle and store it in a cool, dark place for 3-7 days, remembering to shake it every couple of days to help release the cherry flavor. The cherries are delicious, too!
🍸 Ways to Use Cherry Vodka
This vodka is ready to use in your favorite cocktails and mocktails. Try out these drink suggestions and create some of your own!
As-is Over Ice: Enjoy this in its purest form over some crushed ice.
In a Spritz: Add some prosecco or champagne for a sour cherry vodka spritz.
Cherry Vodka Sour: Enjoy with a simple mix of fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and ice.
Sour Cherry Martini: Mix the sour cherry vodka with dry vermouth, cherry liqueur, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for a tasty martini.
🍽️ Storage Advice
Store your vodka in a sealed container in a cool, dark place. Although it doesn’t go bad, the taste of the vodka will fade in potency as time passes, so don’t plan to hang onto it forever.
⭐️ More Incredible Sour Cherry Recipes to Try
Find out just how versatile and delicious sour cherries can be.
Pit the cherries. This is easiest using a cherry pitter but a straw also works. You can reserve the pits to also add to the infusion or toss them. See notes below.
Wash the cherries using a minimal amount of the vodka. Pour off the vodka.
Add the cherries (and optional pits) to the rest of the vodka directly into the container. Seal and store in a cool, dark place for 3-7 days, remembering to shake it every couple days to help release the cherry flavor. The cherries are delicious, too!
Notes
The cherry seeds add an almond-like flavor to the vodka that I enjoy, but you can absolutely leave them out. I prefer to add them in separately from the pitted cherries because leaving the cherries whole doesn’t allow the flavor to infuse as strongly into the vodka. So whether or not you leave them, still pit the cherries before adding them to the vodka. You can also infuse them separately and mix them back together.If you aren’t using the bottle the vodka came in, be sure to sterilize the bottle you are using and then give it a rinse with vodka.
