Cherry Rye Collins

About the Cherry Rye Collins

A tart and slightly sweet whiskey cocktail, the Cherry Rye Collins takes the classic Collins format and gives it a fruit forward update with Timber Creek’s Florida Black Rye Whiskey, lemon juice, cherry syrup, and a top of soda water. The cherry syrup brings a rich, dark sweetness that pairs naturally with rye’s own spice, while the lemon juice keeps the whole drink from leaning too far into dessert territory, and the soda water lightens the finish so it still drinks like a proper Collins rather than a cherry cordial. The rye’s spice is essential to keeping this cocktail balanced rather than simply sweet, and that spice comes directly from how the whiskey is made.

Florida Black Rye Whiskey goes through Timber Creek’s PureBlend process, where the rye grain is distilled and barrel aged separately from the rest of the mash bill before blending, which preserves its naturally peppery character. Against the sweetness of cherry syrup, that spice is what keeps the Collins tasting like a whiskey cocktail with fruit, rather than a fruit cocktail with whiskey added almost as an afterthought. To build it, shake the whiskey, lemon juice, and cherry syrup together with ice until well chilled, strain over fresh ice in a Collins or highball glass, and top with soda water.

A stir with a bar spoon after adding the soda helps integrate everything without knocking out too much carbonation. A cherry or lemon wheel on the rim finishes the presentation. Grilled pork and cherry glazed ham are natural pairings here, with the syrup in the cocktail echoing any fruit glaze on the plate and the rye’s spice cutting through the richness of the meat.

It works well for a holiday dinner, a fall gathering, or any occasion where a fruit forward whiskey cocktail fits the menu. Sweet as it drinks, it’s still a real cocktail, so sip it slowly and drink responsibly.

A tart and slightly sweet whiskey cocktail, the Cherry Rye Collins takes the classic Collins format and gives it a fruit forward update with Timber Creek’s Florida Black Rye Whiskey, lemon juice, cherry syrup, and a top of soda water. The cherry syrup brings a rich, dark sweetness that pairs naturally with rye’s own spice, while the lemon juice keeps the whole drink from leaning too far into dessert territory, and the soda water lightens the finish so it still drinks like a proper Collins rather than a cherry cordial. The rye’s spice is essential to keeping this cocktail balanced rather than simply sweet, and that spice comes directly from how the whiskey is made.

Florida Black Rye Whiskey goes through Timber Creek’s PureBlend process, where the rye grain is distilled and barrel aged separately from the rest of the mash bill before blending, which preserves its naturally peppery character. Against the sweetness of cherry syrup, that spice is what keeps the Collins tasting like a whiskey cocktail with fruit, rather than a fruit cocktail with whiskey added almost as an afterthought. To build it, shake the whiskey, lemon juice, and cherry syrup together with ice until well chilled, strain over fresh ice in a Collins or highball glass, and top with soda water.

A stir with a bar spoon after adding the soda helps integrate everything without knocking out too much carbonation. A cherry or lemon wheel on the rim finishes the presentation. Grilled pork and cherry glazed ham are natural pairings here, with the syrup in the cocktail echoing any fruit glaze on the plate and the rye’s spice cutting through the richness of the meat.

It works well for a holiday dinner, a fall gathering, or any occasion where a fruit forward whiskey cocktail fits the menu. Sweet as it drinks, it’s still a real cocktail, so sip it slowly and drink responsibly.