cherry bombs

Sweet cherries have a more generous season than the elusive tart cherry. That means extra time to blow up your social feeds with pictures of recipes like these.

-  EMILY PASTER

IN THE KNOW

A little classic cocktail training: A gimlet mixes gin, lime juice and simple syrup. Add club soda, and you've got yourself a rickey. In this version, fresh cherries flavor a rosy syrup that steers clear of tasting medicinal, and the ratio of gin is a little lower, so it drinks breezier (not boozier).

SUMMER SIPPER

Cherry-Lime Gin Rickey

For syrup: Combine 1 cup pitted sweet cherries and 1/2 cup each sugar and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer, stirring to dissolve sugar. Simmer 5 minutes, crushing cherries with a spoon to release juices. Remove from heat; let steep 10 minutes. Strain and chill syrup. For one cocktail: In a cocktail shaker, muddle 1/2 cup pitted sweet cherries with 1 1/2 ounces fresh lime juice. Add 2 ounces gin and 1 1/2 ounces of the syrup. Fill shaker with ice, cover and shake until well chilled. Strain into an ice-filled glass and top with 2 ounces club soda. Garnish with a cherry and lime slice.