It’s almost the weekend. And the weather’s heating up and gorgeous red cherries are in season here in Istanbul. And while they are perfect eaten simply as is, by the mouthful, gracefully trying to spit out the pits, I thought I’d make a fun frozen beverage to liven up our socially distant spirits. Let’s face it, this summer isn’t going to look much like past years of poolside gatherings, bbq’s, birthday parties or happy hour cocktails with friends. So any little bits we can add in at home to spark even the slightest bit of out-of-the-ordinary spice, I say go for it.

And we did just that with this Cherry Bourbon Slushie recently. See, the excitement of this drink wasn’t only for the peak season cherries, but also the bourbon that compliments them so well. When we lived in LA, making fun cocktails with our favorite, Bulleit Bourbon, didn’t seem like such a splurge. But living here in Istanbul where it’s imported and much pricier, we don’t often have it stocked at home, so it made this feel like an extra special treat. And indeed it was.

There are five ingredients in this drink (plus ice cubes,) with three of them being pretty staple items that shouldn’t be too hard to get- an orange, a lime and some mint leaves. Here, fresh and frozen cherries are available so you can go either way. I opted for fresh, which I pitted and froze myself. But don’t worry if you don’t have cherries. You can use another fruit like frozen peaches, nectarines or even berries. If they are really sweet, cut the orange juice in half and/ or replace it with a little water depending how thick you want it. You can use any kind of bourbon you like. Or turn it into a mocktail and omit the alcohol completely. Swap it for a little more lime juice, oj or water or any combo of the three.