Natural Light Black Cherry Vodka is a flavored vodka made by the Anheuser-Busch brewing company. As the name suggests, it is their classic Natural Light beer turned into a 70-proof vodka and flavored with black cherry. This imparts a sweet, fruity taste that makes for an easy-drinking vodka. Natural Light Black Cherry Vodka is relatively inexpensive, making it popular for mixing into cocktails and shots. But what are the best mixers to use with this vodka? Here are some suggestions.
Fruit Juices
Fruit juices make excellent mixers for Natural Light Black Cherry Vodka because they complement and enhance the sweet black cherry flavor. Here are some of the best fruit juice mixers to try:
Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice has a tart, vibrant flavor that balances beautifully with the sweetness of the black cherry vodka. It’s a classic combination that works well in simple vodka cranberry cocktails. Try mixing 2 parts vodka with 4 parts cranberry juice over ice and garnish with a lime wedge.
Pomegranate Juice
The rich, concentrated taste of pomegranate juice is fantastic with black cherry vodka. For a refreshing drink, mix 1 part vodka with 2 parts pomegranate juice and a splash of club soda in a tall glass with ice. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Cherry Juice
For an extra cherry punch, use tart cherry juice as a mixer. The cherry-on-cherry flavor combination really makes the black cherry vodka shine. Make a vodka cherry juice smash by muddling some fresh mint leaves and lime wedges in a glass. Add ice, 2 parts vodka, and 4 parts cherry juice. Top with club soda and garnish with cherries.
Grapefruit Juice
The citrusy tartness of grapefruit juice contrasts nicely with the sweet black cherry flavor. Make a greyhound cocktail by combining 1 part vodka and 3 parts fresh grapefruit juice over ice and garnishing with a grapefruit wedge squeezed into the drink.
Sodas
For easy, refreshing vodka cocktails, try mixing your black cherry vodka with sodas and sparkling waters. The carbonation lifts the fruit flavor beautifully.
Ginger Ale
The sweet, spicy taste of ginger ale makes an excellent partner for black cherry vodka. For a simple mixed drink, combine 2 parts vodka with 4 parts ginger ale over ice and garnish with a lime wedge or maraschino cherry.
Tonic Water
Tonic water adds bitter, citrusy flavors that complement the vodka’s cherry tones. Make a tasty vodka tonic by pouring 1 part vodka, 2 parts tonic water over ice in a tall glass and garnishing with a lemon slice.
Club Soda
For an anytime vodka soda, mix 1 part Natural Light Black Cherry Vodka with 3 parts chilled club soda. Add a squeeze of fresh lime juice and serve over ice.
Lemon-Lime Soda
The lemon-lime flavors of 7Up or Sprite create an easy, refreshing cherry vodka drink. Mix equal parts vodka and lemon-lime soda over ice and garnish with a maraschino cherry.
Juices and Sodas Combined
For more complex flavors, try combining fruit juices and sodas together with the vodka. Here are some delicious combo ideas:
– Vodka, cranberry juice, and ginger ale
– Vodka, grapefruit juice, and tonic water
– Vodka, pomegranate juice, and lemon-lime soda
– Vodka, cherry juice, and club soda
Play around with proportions to find a balance you enjoy. Serve over ice and garnish festively. The juice flavors complement the vodka while the sodas provide effervescence.
Other Creative Mixers
Beyond basic fruit juices and sodas, there are lots of other mixers that pair deliciously with Natural Light Black Cherry Vodka:
Lemonade or Fruit-Flavored Lemonades
For a refreshing summer drink, mix vodka with lemonade or fruit-flavored lemonades like raspberry, strawberry, or cherry. The sweet-tart lemonade flavor highlights the vodka’s fruitiness.
Iced Tea
Make vodka-based long drinks by mixing with iced tea. Sweetened black tea works particularly well, echoing the rich cherry tones.
Ginger Beer
For a Moscow Mule variation, combine vodka with the spicy snap of ginger beer and the freshness of lime juice over ice.
Bloody Mary Mix
For a boozy brunch beverage, stir together vodka, bloody mary mix, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and other seasonings. Garnish with olives, celery, bacon, and pickled veggies.
Eggnog
Around the holidays, add vodka to eggnog along with nutmeg and cinnamon for a grown-up, spiked nog.
Coffee
Make a delicious after dinner drink by pouring vodka into iced coffee or a hot coffee beverage. The roasted coffee flavors intermingle beautifully with the cherry tones. Add simple syrup or cream to taste.
Cocktail Recipes
For easy cocktail recipes using Natural Light Black Cherry Vodka, try:
Black Cherry Vodka Lemonade
– 1.5 oz vodka
– 4 oz lemonade
– Lemon wedge for garnish
Fill a highball glass with ice. Add vodka and top with lemonade. Stir gently and garnish with a lemon wedge.
Cherry Vodka Fizz
– 1 oz vodka
– 3 oz ginger ale
– 1⁄2 oz cherry juice
– Maraschino cherry for garnish
Fill a highball glass with ice. Add vodka, cherry juice, and top with ginger ale. Stir gently and garnish with a maraschino cherry.
Black Cherry & Orange Vodka Sunset
– 1.5 oz vodka
– 4 oz orange juice
– 1 oz black cherry juice
– Orange slice for garnish
Fill a highball glass with ice. Add vodka and juices. Stir gently and garnish with an orange slice.
Cherry-Berry Vodka Sparkler
– 1.5 oz vodka
– 2 oz cranberry juice
– 4 oz lemon-lime soda
– Lemon wedge for garnish
Fill a tall glass with ice. Add vodka and cranberry juice. Top with lemon-lime soda. Stir gently and garnish with a lemon wedge.
Shots
Natural Light Black Cherry Vodka also makes a tasty shot on its own or paired with other liqueurs. Some shot ideas include:
– Straight up as a chilled shot
– With grenadine for a liquid cherry shot
– With coffee liqueur for an espresso cherry shot
– With orange liqueur for a cherry-citrus shot
– With pineapple juice for a tropical black cherry shot
When taking shots, be responsible and drink in moderation. Vodka has a high alcohol content so pace yourself accordingly.
Non-Alcoholic Mixers
To enjoy the flavors of Natural Light Black Cherry Vodka without alcohol, try mixing it with these non-alcoholic beverages:
Sparkling Water
For an anytime spritzer, mix vodka with chilled sparkling water and a squeeze of fresh lime or lemon juice. The carbonation makes the fruity vodka flavors pop.
Cherry Italian Soda
Make an Italian soda by combining vodka, cherry juice, and club soda over ice. The sweet cherry fizziness shines through without the alcohol.
Shirley Temple
For a fun mocktail, mix vodka with ginger ale, grenadine, and garnish with maraschino cherries and an orange slice. Leave out the vodka for a kiddie version.
Food Pairings
In addition to beverages, Natural Light Black Cherry Vodka also pairs nicely with these food items:
Cherries
Fresh sweet cherries – whether pitted, frozen, or dried – beautifully complement the black cherry vodka flavors. Serve vodka cocktails accompanied by a bowl of cherries for nibbling.
Chocolate
The rich sweetness of dark chocolate makes an indulgent match for black cherry vodka’s fruity flavors. Pair chocolate truffles or brownies with black cherry vodka cocktails or shots.
Cheesecake
Cherry cheesecake is a dessert lover’s dream with black cherry vodka. The creamy cheesecake base contrasts lusciously with the vibrant cherry flavors.
BBQ Ribs
The sweet fruity tones of the vodka balance nicely with rich, smoky barbecue ribs glazed in sauce.
Pizza
A fun pairing for casual get-togethers – wash down some pizza slices with black cherry vodka cocktail or shots.
Tips for Choosing Mixers
When deciding what to mix with Natural Light Black Cherry Vodka, keep these tips in mind:
– Complement the flavor – Choose mixers that either echo or contrast nicely with the black cherry taste. Sweet fruit juices or tart citrus work well.
– Consider the vodka’s profile – Since this vodka has prominent sweet fruitiness, opt for mixers that won’t overpower it.
– Mind the proportions – Don’t overwhelm the vodka flavor with too much mixer. Start with a 2:1 or 1:1 ratio.
– Add carbonation – For refreshing drinks, look for lively sodas, sparkling waters, ginger beers.
– Garnish with fruit – Cherries, limes, lemons, oranges add nice fruity garnishes.
– Think seasons – In summer, opt for light, bright mixes like lemonade or iced tea. In winter, go for warming cranberry or pomegranate juice.
– Experiment and enjoy – Part of the fun is trying different mixer combinations to find your perfect cocktail.
Conclusion
With its sweet black cherry flavor, Natural Light Black Cherry Vodka gives you plenty of delicious mixing and cocktail options. Fruit juices like cranberry, pomegranate, grapefruit, or cherry all complement the vodka wonderfully. For bubbles, mix with sodas like ginger ale, tonic, club soda, or lemon-lime soda. Get creative by combining juices and sodas in one drink. Beyond basic mixes, try lemonade, iced tea, ginger beer, bloody mary mix, or coffee too. Whip up cocktail recipes like a Black Cherry Vodka Lemonade, Cherry Vodka Fizz, or Cherry-Berry Vodka Sparkler. Or take straight shots on their own or with liqueurs. For alcohol-free options, mix with sparkling water, cherry soda, or make a fun Shirley Temple mocktail. However you choose to mix it, Natural Light Black Cherry Vodka makes for easy, refreshing cocktails and shots.