Chocolate-Covered Cherry (2024)

This post contains affiliate links. See our disclosure policyhere.

co*cktail History

The Chocolate-Covered Cherry is a Christmas co*cktail that was created by Nick Mautone at the Rainbow Room in New York City, New York and was first published in his book The Artisanal Kitchen: Holiday co*cktails. Originally based on a shot the author once tried at another bar, his recipe actually called for just equal parts Heering Cherry Liqueur and dark crème de cacao, but we decided to add an ounce of Cognac for more body and booziness. We also dialed down the cherry liqueur for more balance.

co*cktail Ingredients

To make this co*cktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Cognac: This is a type of brandy made in Cognac, France with distilled white wine. We usedCourvoisier VSOP Cognacbecause it has a rich mouthfeel and a delightful brandy spice with notes of peach, almond, and cinnamon. For a mocktail version of this drink, tryEscape Mocktails Non-Alcoholic Cognac Alternativein place of the brandy.

Dark Crème De Cacao: This is a liqueur made with dark chocolate, spices, sugar, and alcohol. We usedDeKuyper Crème De Cacao Dark Liqueurbecause it’s flavorful and affordable. For a mocktail version of this drink, tryMonin Premium Dark Chocolate Syrupin place of the dark chocolate liqueur.

Heering Cherry Liqueur: This is a liqueur made in Denmark with Stevens cherries, baking spices, almonds, sugar, and alcohol. For a mocktail version of this drink, tryMonin Premium Cherry Syrupin place of the cherry liqueur.

Cherry: This is a fruit that has been soaked in brandy and rich syrup. We used Luxardo Maraschino Cherries because they’re high quality and delicious.

Bartending Tools

To make this co*cktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used theJapanese jiggerfrom theA Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Mixing Glass: This is used to hold the ingredients while they’re being stirred. We used theViski 17 oz co*cktail Mixing Glass.

Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. We used theBarfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.

Julep Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the co*cktail is stirred. We used theA Bar Above Julep Strainer.

co*cktail Pick: This is used to hold the garnish. We used one from theKingSeal Bamboo Knot co*cktail Pick Set.

Tasting Notes

The Chocolate-Covered Cherry features delightful aromas of cherry, the initially sweet taste of cherry and chocolate on top of Cognac’s deep spirituousness, and then a dark cocoa-cherry flavor along with a lingering oakiness as it goes down.

Our Opinion of This co*cktail Recipe: After seeing its short list of ingredients, we weren’t expecting much complexity from this drink and instead assumed the Chocolate-Covered Cherry would more or less just be a tasty sweet drink. But we both absolutely loved this riff! It just goes to show you can never underestimate a well-balanced dessert co*cktail no matter how simple it is.

Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.

Take Our Quiz →

Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This drink was very delightful, and it offered more complexity than I expected. The original recipe was just 1 ½ oz Heering Cherry Liqueur and 1 ½ oz Dark Crème De Cacao, which I figured would be way too sweet. To fix this, I threw in one ounce of Cognac and kept the cherry liqueur at ½ oz, and I thought the result was fantastic. Cognac’s complexity and boldness brought a lot more character to the co*cktail that would’ve been missing otherwise, and the cherry was still present but not overwhelming.”

—

Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This is a much more sophisticated dessert co*cktail than the other Christmas recipes we’ve tried, and I really enjoyed it. All three flavors—Cognac, cherry, and chocolate—play together very well thanks to the tweaks Alex made to this recipe’s specifications. I could absolutely see myself sipping on the Chocolate-Covered Cherry after a holiday dinner.”

Recipe

This co*cktail recipe was adapted from The Artisanal Kitchen: Holiday co*cktails by Nick Mautone.

AuthorThe Artisanal Kitchen: Holiday co*cktails

Yields1 ServingPrep Time5 mins

Make It a Mocktail: Use Escape Mocktails Non-Alcoholic Cognac Alternativein place of the brandy,Monin Premium Dark Chocolate Syrupin place of the dark chocolate liqueur, and Monin Premium Cherry Syrupin place of the cherry liqueur to try a booze-free version of this drink.

Shop Glassware & Tools

Find collections of co*cktail glassware and bartending tools we recommend for your home bar in ourAmazon shop.

More Christmas co*cktails

If you like this Christmas-inspired co*cktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:

Kohler Mint Cocoa: A chocolate mint brandy co*cktail made with milk, white peppermint schnapps, dark crème de cacao, cocoa powder, whipped cream, and grated chocolate

Winter Berry Gin Fizz: A gin co*cktail made with lime juice, cranberry syrup, raspberry liqueur, soda water, cranberries, and rosemary

Candy Cane Martini: A vodka co*cktail made with white crème de cacao, white crème de menthe, simple syrup, and crushed candy cane

Cranberry Cobbler: A sherry co*cktail made with cranberry syrup, orange slices, an orange wedge, mint, and cranberries

This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2024-03-17.