The Moonrunner's Manhattan

Struck with a little white lightning, this revamped Manhattan is high proof that moonshine—especially cherry-infused, including a hooch-soaked maraschino cherry—can even make perfection a little more perfect.

Moonshine by John Schlimm

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces cherry-infused moonshine (instructions follow)

• 3/4 ounce dry or sweet vermouth

• 1 dash Angostura bitters

• 1 dash simple syrup

• 1 teaspoon maraschino cherry juice, or to taste

• Lemon slice (for garnishing)

• Regular or moonshine-infused maraschino cherries (for garnishing)

Directions

In a small Mason jar with ice cubes, add all of the ingredients, except the garnish, stirring to combine. Garnish with the lemon slice and cherries. Yields 1 cocktail.

Cherry-Infused Moonshine
Yields approximately 3 cups

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups fresh cherries, washed, stemmed, and pitted, whole or halved, or maraschino cherries

• 3 cups unflavored moonshine

Directions

Using a 1-quart jar, add the cherries. Pour in the moonshine. Seal the jar with a lid. Let sit for 2 to 3 weeks, shaking once or twice a day. Shake the mixture. Either serve directly from the jar, leaving the cherries as is; or, using a sieve or coffee filter, strain the cherry-infused moonshine into a new 1-quart jar, and save the moonshine-infused cherries for garnishing. Serve immediately or cover and store in freezer for up to 1 month.