FEATURED IN OUR
NOVEMBER 2026 MAGAZINE ISSUE
Full Recipe
Ingredients
- 3–4 fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
- 2 oz bourbon
- ¾ oz honey syrup (recipe below)
- ½ oz freshly squeezed blood orange juice
- ½ oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 fresh basil leaves
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- Ice
For the garnish
- ½ fresh strawberry
- 1 dehydrated blood orange wheel
- 1 small sprig of fresh basil
Honey Syrup
Combine 2 tablespoons honey with 2 tablespoons warm water. Stir until completely dissolved, then cool before using. Refrigerate any remaining syrup.
Directions
1. Muddle the fruit. In a cocktail shaker, combine the fresh strawberries and honey syrup. Gently muddle until the strawberries release their juices.
2. Build the cocktail. Add the bourbon, blood orange juice, lemon juice, orange bitters, and basil leaves. Gently press the basil once or twice to release its aroma without bruising it excessively.
3. Shake it up. Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds until thoroughly chilled.
4. Strain and pour. Double-strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. This removes excess strawberry pulp and basil fragments for a smoother finish.
5. The finishing touch. Garnish with a dehydrated blood orange wheel, a fresh strawberry half, and a delicate sprig of basil.
A Little Something Extra
For an even more distinctive Cerese D signature, lightly brush the dehydrated orange wheel with honey and sprinkle it with a tiny pinch of flaky sea salt before adding it to the glass. That subtle sweet-and-salty finish adds an unexpected touch.
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