Back-to-school season may mean getting back on schedule, but nobody said the drinks had to follow the rules. The Hall Pass Cherry Cola Bourbon Highball takes the familiar combination of whiskey and cola and gives it a fresh cherry, citrus, and BBQ-inspired upgrade.
Bourbon brings caramel, vanilla, and oak while muddled cherries give the drink a deeper fruit flavor than bottled cherry syrup. Fresh lime cuts through the sweetness, and a couple dashes of bitters give the highball enough complexity to keep it from tasting like an ordinary mixed drink.
Cold cola finishes everything with plenty of carbonation, making this one lighter and easier drinking than a traditional bourbon cocktail. It is especially good during those late-August evenings when summer weather is still hanging around even though school is already back in session.
For the Smoking Swines touch, briefly smoke the glass with cherry or pecan wood before pouring. You only need a small amount of smoke—the bourbon and cola will grab onto it quickly and give the finished drink a subtle backyard BBQ character.
Cherry Bourbon Highball
- 2 oz bourbon
- 3 fresh cherries, pitted
- 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
- 0.5 oz simple syrup
- 2 dashes aromatic bitters
- 4 oz chilled Coke cola
- Ice
Garnish
- 1 fresh cherry
- 1 lime wheel
Build the Cocktail
- Add the pitted cherries, lime juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker.
- Gently muddle the cherries until they release their juice.
- Add the bourbon and bitters.
- Fill the shaker with ice.
- Shake for about 10 seconds.
- Fill a highball or Collins glass completely with fresh ice.
- Double strain the bourbon mixture over the ice.
- Slowly top with 3–4 oz chilled cola.
- Give the drink one gentle stir to combine without knocking out too much carbonation.
- Garnish with a fresh cherry and lime wheel.
- Serve immediately.