Name: Cherry Bourbon Chocolate Cocktail: An Easy Decadent Drink
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 2 oz bourbon; 1 oz dark chocolate liqueur; 1 oz cherry liqueur (or 1/2 oz cherry syrup); 1 dash chocolate bitters; Ice; Maraschino cherry and dark chocolate shavings for garnish

Jump to Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Simple Cocktail
The Perfect Easy Drink for Any Occasion
Your Guide to Quick and Delicious Dessert Drinks
Crafting a Simple Cocktail: A Story in a Glass
Effortless Entertaining: Your Cocktail Cheat Code
Tips and Tricks from My Home Bar
The Recipe
Notes & Tips

Key Takeaways

This Cherry Bourbon Chocolate Cocktail is the ultimate easy recipe for a sophisticated yet simple cocktail. It delivers a luxurious, dessert-like experience with warm bourbon, rich chocolate, and sweet cherry in just 5 minutes. Perfect for date nights, holiday parties, or when you just need a quick and delicious treat, this drink proves that creating impressive cocktails doesn’t have to be complicated.

Why You’ll Love This Simple Cocktail

Hi, I’m Patricia from Patricia Universe, and I believe the best easy recipes are the ones that feel special without the fuss. This Cherry Bourbon Chocolate cocktail is exactly that. It’s a decadent, adult treat that comes together with just a few ingredients and a quick shake. If you’re looking for a delicious dessert recipe that you can sip, this is it. The beauty of this simple cocktail lies in its balance; it’s sweet but not cloying, strong but smooth, and incredibly satisfying.

The Perfect Easy Drink for Any Occasion

Finding a versatile drink that works for a cozy night in, a festive gathering, or a last-minute “I deserve this” moment is a game-changer. This cocktail is my go-to for all of the above. It’s elegant enough for a holiday party but quick and easy enough for a Wednesday. The rich chocolate and cherry notes make it a fantastic sweet easy recipe for satisfying a dessert craving without turning on the oven. Once you master this simple cocktail base, you’ll have a reliable, impressive drink in your arsenal for life.

Your Guide to Quick and Delicious Dessert Drinks

The world of after-dinner drinks is vast, but it shouldn’t be intimidating. A great dessert cocktail recipe should complement a meal, not require its own recipe book. This Cherry Bourbon Chocolate drink is part of a wonderful category of easy recipes that blend the line between food and drink. It’s like having your chocolate torte and drinking it, too! The method is straightforward: quality ingredients, a good shake, and a thoughtful garnish. It’s proof that the most memorable experiences often come from the simplest preparations.

Crafting a Simple Cocktail: A Story in a Glass

Every cocktail tells a story. This one begins with the oaky warmth of bourbon, a spirit with depth and character. We then introduce the lush, dark sweetness of chocolate liqueur, followed by the bright, fruity pop of cherry. A single dash of chocolate bitters acts as the narrator, tying all the flavors together and adding a sophisticated, slightly bitter edge that keeps everything in check. When you take a sip, you’re not just having a drink; you’re experiencing a layered, harmonious flavor profile that was surprisingly easy to create.

Effortless Entertaining: Your Cocktail Cheat Code

Want to be the host everyone remembers? Serve this cocktail. It looks like you spent hours, but only you (and now you) will know it’s one of the most quick and easy recipes in your repertoire. The visual appeal is incredible—a deep, inviting liquid with a jewel-like cherry and delicate chocolate shavings floating on top. It’s a conversation starter and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Setting up a little “cocktail station” with the ingredients and letting guests watch you make them is half the fun and all of the charm.

Tips and Tricks from My Home Bar

After making this (and many other easy recipes) countless times, I’ve picked up a few secrets. First, always shake a cocktail with spirit forward ingredients until the shaker is frosty cold—it makes a noticeable difference in smoothness. Second, your garnish is your flourish; a high-quality maraschino cherry and a few shavings from a good dark chocolate bar elevate the drink from good to “wow.” Finally, don’t be afraid to adjust the sweetness to your taste. The recipe is a perfect guide, but your palate is the final boss.

The Recipe

Find the full ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe card below. Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll do to make this fantastic drink.

Chill & Combine: Fill your shaker with ice and add the bourbon, chocolate liqueur, cherry liqueur, and bitters.
Shake Vigorously: Shake it like you mean it for 15-20 seconds until it’s perfectly chilled.
Strain & Serve: Strain into your chosen glass and add your beautiful garnish.

Notes & Tips

Sweetness Control: For a less sweet version, start with 1/2 oz of cherry liqueur. You can also use a tart cherry juice instead of liqueur for a different twist.
Bourbon Choice: A mid-shelf bourbon with notes of caramel or vanilla works wonderfully here. You don’t need the most expensive bottle, but avoid anything too harsh.
No Bitters? If you don’t have chocolate bitters, a dash of aromatic bitters (like Angostura) can work in a pinch, though the flavor profile will shift.
Make it a Batch: This recipe scales beautifully for a party! Simply multiply the ingredients (excluding the garnish), mix in a large pitcher, and keep it chilled. Shake individual servings with ice when ready to serve for the best texture.