Bing Cherry Mojito

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 1 1/4 cups fresh lime juice, about 9 limes
• 3 lbs bing cherries
• 18 ounces black cherry vodka or plain vodka
• 750 ml sparkling water

Directions

1. 1

   Bring sugar and plain water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool completely.

2. 2

   Put lime juice into a medium non-reactive bowl. Halve and pit the cherries; add to lime juice. Stir in syrup. Refrigerate at least 1 hour, up to overnight.

3. 3

   Stir cherry mixture and vodka in a large serving bowl. Fill 12 glasses with ice. Spoon 1/2 cup cherry-vodka mixture into each glass, top off with sparkling water and serve immediately.