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The Pit Stop is a cherry drink twice over, and the name is a quiet joke about where the flavor comes from. Kirschwasser and cherry brandy split the base evenly, a teaspoon of amaretto rounds it out, and lemonade stretches the whole thing into something you can sip slowly over ice. It is quick to build, needs no shaker, and lands somewhere between a highball and a short sour.
The two cherry spirits do very different jobs. Kirschwasser, or kirsch, is a clear, dry brandy distilled from whole cherries, stones and all, which is why good kirsch carries a faint bitter almond note. Cherry brandy in recipes like this one usually means the sweet, deep red liqueur style that Cherry Heering made famous, and it supplies the color and the ripe fruit. Amaretto picks up that almond thread from the kirsch and ties the two together, while the lemonade keeps everything tart rather than syrupy. The result is bright red, fruity and sharper than you might expect.
Glass: Old-fashioned glass | Strength: Medium | Serves: 1 | Prep Time: 2 minutes
Bartenders tip: Give it a short stir once everything is in the glass, since the cherry liqueur is heavier than the lemonade and will settle to the bottom if left alone. Still lemonade makes a tarter, more cocktail-like drink, while sparkling lemonade turns it into a light spritz. Kirsch quality varies a lot and cheaper bottles can taste harsh, so this is a good place to spend a little more. Broken ice chills it fast but also melts fast, so drink it while it is cold.
