sour cherry smash

4 Fresh Cherries, de-pitted (Rainier Cherries)
1/2 Lemon, cut into wedges
3/8 oz Ginger Simple Syrup
Mint
2 oz Apple Brandy (Laird's Bonded)
2 dash Aromatic Bitters (Fee's Whiskey Barrel Bitters)

De-stem and de-pit the cherries. Muddle cherries and lemon in a mixing glass. Add mint and lightly muddle. Add apple brandy, simple syrup, bitters, and ice. Shake and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice cubes or crushed ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint.
Andrea had bought a bag of yellow cherries this week and last night seemed like the perfect evening to make a smash and drink it on the deck. For a base spirit, the Laird's Bonded we bought last week seemed like the perfect fruity match for the cherries and lemon. The ginger syrup seemed to go rather well with the lemon, and the drink had a delightful tart cherry taste on the swallow. Andrea debated me on whether or not a 1/2 oz of Benedictine Liqueur would have improved the drink; while we left it out, it might make for a good variant next time.