42 Comments
User's avatar
Robert Lorenz's avatar

My limit is two. Either Scotch neat, Jack and Coke, or a good Ol’fashioned

Michael Procopio's avatar

That’s more or less where I am, too and I’m totally ok with it.

Robert Lorenz's avatar

The last time I got drunk I was 40 and we had won the World Extrication Championship. A teammate and I split the bottle of Jameson. I threw up the next day in a porta potty. A sign. I don't drink much at all now, maybe once a month if that.

Michael Procopio's avatar

Jameson + porta potty does not = fun.

Robert Lorenz's avatar

Nope

Amy Greer's avatar

Sounds delicious! May need to try this with and without the active ingredient!

Michael Procopio's avatar

It’s the “with or without” business about the drink that makes me happiest.

Caroline Smrstik's avatar

This is so perfect because today is the last day to buy cherries from our local farmer. It’s been so hot and dry; now it’s end of our cherry season 😢.

Michael Procopio's avatar

Better late than never, right?

Shannon Rosa's avatar

I have no memory of this drink, so I’m relieved you do. Possibly my lapse is because of too many cherry smashes? Let’s test that theory.

Michael Procopio's avatar

Thank heavens I have photographic evidence! But yes we’ll test the theory.

John D. Hackensacker III's avatar

Gonna make this cocktail (with bourbon) every time I settle down to watch a Susan Hayward movie in which she plays an alcoholic...which is, like, 75 percent of Susan Hayward's filmography.

I'll opt for the virgin version for such Hayward pics as With a Song in My Heart (Susan in a wheelchair bringing a shell-shocked Bob Wagner back to life! I love her so much!) and Back Street (lord, how she suffers in that film).

Michael Procopio's avatar

You have a deep understanding of cinematically-themed drinking, my friend.

Jenn Kirby's avatar

Mmmmm this would be so delightful with bourbon. (But dangerous.)

Michael Procopio's avatar

Very, very good with bourbon.

Jerry Shipp's avatar

Your sweet tale actually made me giggle. Too cute!!

Thank you.

Michael Procopio's avatar

And thank you, Jerry, for telling me that.

Larissa Hennessy's avatar

The following recipe is, as is often the case with my recipes, merely a guideline. Are you sure you are not Irish? What fantastic line

Michael Procopio's avatar

Don't let the Calabrese last name fool you, I've got a lot of Irish blood flowing through these veins.

And thank you.

Jacqueline Mier's avatar

Using my famous Brandied Cherries on this one tonight. Youza😋

Michael Procopio's avatar

So you're going the brandy-confounded route, are you? Youza is right.

Wil Reidie's avatar

I'm happy to report that my next newsletter is all about mocktails. I'll let you know when it drops.

Michael Procopio's avatar

It's enough to know you still pay attention to me, Wil.

Julia Watson's avatar

You and Dorothy Parker both...(I relish your writing not even one cherry pit less than her sparkling prose).

Michael Procopio's avatar

With such high praise, I feel I must now buy a canary and call it Onan. Thank you, Julia.

Susan Hilliard's avatar

Cherry syrup and ginger ... ale is a shirley temple, isn't it?

Michael Procopio's avatar

Susan, if it's to be renamed for a child star, let it be known as "The Virginia Weidler."

A Sawyer's avatar

NO that's pomegranita

Michael Procopio's avatar

I did make a grown up version of a Shirley Temple once, calling it "The Shirley Temple Black." It was delicious.

Lorraine Tilbury's avatar

sounds delicious and refreshing! saving your post 🥰

Michael Procopio's avatar

Thank you. In my mind, you've displayed it on the door of your refrigerator and affixed to it a gold star. Please don't ruin my fantasy by telling me otherwise.

Lorraine Tilbury's avatar

how did you guess? that's EXACTLY what I did! 😉😊

Michael Procopio's avatar

I know my readers, Lorraine.

Peggy Fallon's avatar

Because of you, I will start counting cherries. Yes, this is what my life has come to.

Michael Procopio's avatar

First, you need to find the median cherry and judge all others by it. This is precision stuff, Peggy.

Or you can just basically eyeball it.

Michael Procopio's avatar

One of the perks of making the drink my way is you don't have to pit the little bastards.

Betsy's avatar

I am tearing up because I get to live on a planet where Cherry Smash even exists. The mere idea fills me with joy. Saving this essay, like ALL your essays. You should write a book, my friend. WITH YOUR BEAUTIFUL PICTURES. My Lord, 60 cherries? Why did I ever think I was truly happy before reading this recipe?

Michael Procopio's avatar

When Shannon shoved that first cherry smash in my hand, the world was all Technicolor and Vistavision.

I'm so glad you think my pictures are beautiful, because I really hate taking drink photos!

Betsy's avatar

Truly they are beautiful.

Michael Procopio's avatar

Bless you for that.

Chris Jensen's avatar

I can’t think of anything appropriate to say, so I’ll simply vow to smash the non-alcoholic version by summer’s end.

Michael Procopio's avatar

I think that's appropriate enough, Chris. I imagine cherry season might run a bit later in your neck of the country.