Cherry Mojito

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 1/4 cups fresh lime juice (about 9 limes)
• 3 lbs dark cherries
• 2 1/4 cups black cherry vodka or plain vodka
• 1 (750 ml) bottle sparkling water

Directions

1. 1

   Bring sugar and 1 1/4 cups water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved.

2. 2

   Remove from heat; let cool completely. (Makes about 2 cups syrup.) Syrup can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 month.

3. 3

   Put lime juice into a medium nonreactive bowl. Halve 2/3 of the cherries; add all cherries to lime juice. Stir in syrup. Refrigerate at least 1 hour (up to overnight).

4. 4

   Stir cherry mixture and vodka in a large serving bowl.

5. 5

   Fill 12 glasses with ice. Spoon 1/2 cup cherry-vodka mixture into each glass.

6. 6

   Top with sparkling water; serve immediately.