Cuba Libre with Homemade Cherry Vanilla Syrup - #HotSummerEats

I received a complimentary book from Quirk Books and product from Casabella to help me create my recipe for #HotSummerEats. All experiences and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the products I received.

Summer is a great time to grab a cold beverage and relax. One of my all-time favorite alcoholic drinks has been a rum and coke. But, it doesn't get any better than a Cherry Vanilla Rum and Coke!

Welcome back for another great #HotSummerEats recipe. This recipe comes from Quirk Books' Summer Cocktails. I am not very handy with the mixed drinks, but this book inspired me to try a few more things at home. With great photos and some exciting drink and cold treat ideas (the Hot Watermelon Sherbet and Lemon Love are also calling my name!), there are some great recipes you will want to check out in this book.

After flipping through for a few days, and even having my husband make suggestions, I decided on featuring the Cuba Libre... a rum and Coke cocktail staple. Of course, once I looked at the variations they suggested, I knew I would have to make it "With a Cherry On Top".

You see, right outside my living room window is the cherry orchard and right around the time the sponsor's items showed up, our orchard was in full bloom. I also was sent a lovely Cherry Pitter from Casabella.

So you can see how this was a perfect match!

This Cherry Pitter from Casabella is going to save me a lot of work this year. I have had every kind of cherry pitter imaginable and this did a great job of keeping the mess off my shirt and walls. Place the cherry in the middle and push down. All the juice and mess goes downward, into the covered end.

Be sure to check out all the other great innovative products Casabella has to offer.

So armed with a pound of fresh cherries, vanilla bean paste, sugar and water, I went about creating a Cherry-Vanilla Syrup for my cocktail. But, in truth... this syrup would be amazing for a whole host of other uses. Just use it in place of a regular simple syrup.

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Cuba Libre - With a Cherry On Top
from Summer Cocktails by Quirk Books

You Will Need:

• 2 oz. of rum, golden or dark
• 1 oz. cherry-vanilla syrup
• ice
• Coke to fill the glass
• 1 stem-in cherry for garnish

To make the Cherry Vanilla Syrup:

• 3 c. pitted cherries
• 1 c. sugar
• 2 vanilla beans, scraped (or 2 Tbsp. vanilla bean paste)
• 1 c. water
• 1 Tbsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice

Prepare the Cherry-Vanilla Syrup ahead of time. It can be refrigerated for up to a month.

Puree the cherries, sugar and vanilla bean seeds in a blender. Add to a small saucepan and combine with the water. Bring up to a simmer, stirring to dissolve all the sugar. Remove from the heat and strain out any excess pulp. Stir in the fresh lemon juice, cool and store in an airtight container.

So assemble the drink, Add ice cubes to your glass, then add the rum, the cherry-vanilla syrup and then top off with Coke. Garnish with a cherry and then kick back and relax. Enjoy.

Connect with Quirk Books on Twitter, Facebook and Youtube to find more great titles like Summer Cocktails.

Be sure to check out all the amazing sponsors, and learn more about the giveaway prizes in my #HotSummerEats Sponsors and Prizes Post.

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