Recently, we encountered a winter polar plunge, but not the one where you jump into ice-cold water. Instead, we received a blast of cold, arctic air across the Rocky Mountains, bringing sub-zero temps and dangerous windchill to our region. Rather than heading for the mountains to get some riding, we hunkered down and hibernated through the impending cold snap. While relaxing around our home, we opted for a Cherry Bounce comparison of our 2022 and 2023 batches to pass the time.
We poured our 2022 and 2023 batches and tried them side by side, noting some similarities and differences. The 2022 batch was bottled in Dec. of 2022 and has been sitting, sealed in a cabinet. The 2023 batch came from a jar, where it is still sitting in cherries.
Cherry Bounce 2022
First up, we tried the last 5-ounce bottle of our 2022 Cherry Bounce during our Cherry Bounce comparison. The first thing we noticed about the 2022 is that the color was clearer than the 2023. Instead of dark, rich red, it was a light red, and you could see through the liquid.
Upon tasting batch 2022, Alie felt it had a consistency more like simple syrup than an infused whiskey. We both felt the flavor was light, with a candied cherry flavor and a red wine finish.
Cherry Bounce 2023
Next up in our Cherry Bounce comparison was the 2023 batch. The color was dramatically different in the newest batch. It was a dark red color, much richer than the 2022. Since it came from the jar we’d used to blend and bottle the 2023 batch, the remaining Cherry Bounce had been sitting in cherries. There were remnants of cherry at the bottom of our Glencairn. This may have deepened the color compared to the filtered bottle from the previous year.
The flavor was also very different. We picked up the notes of smoked wood and oak, over-ripened cherry, and hints of caramel. The flavor of the whiskey was better balanced with the cherry flavors. Instead of tasting like maraschino cherry juice, like the 2022 batch, it tasted like a rich dessert whiskey.
Closing Thoughts
After our cherry bounce comparison, we came away with some important information. First, we made a much larger batch of Cherry Bounce in 2023 compared to 2023. We used more alcohol and, more importantly, cherries, impacting the flavor.
In the 2022 batch, I used cherry wood to smoke the cherries. This year, I opted for mesquite wood and cherry chips. Using the mesquite wood during the smoking process imparted more smoke and wood flavor to the cherries. In the future, I may continue to use smokier, more flavorful wood during the smoking process.
One final note is that I ran out of sugar during the 2023 batch. As a result, I used about 1/4 less sugar in this batch. Overall, adding less sugar made the Cherry Bounce better, in our opinion. Moving forward, I plan to use less sugar in the 2024 batch.
The biggest takeaway from our Cherry Bounce comparison is that we should drink it before the winter ends. Several friends opt to save their bottles to enjoy throughout the year. However, it is better when fresh, so we recommend you drink it sooner rather than later. If you want to make a batch, check out the recipe here.
Happy Exploring!
