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Cherry Bounce is a sweet, cherry-infused alcoholic drink made with fruit and spirits; recipes differ. In North Carolina, its best-documented historical association is with Amos Owens, the Rutherford County distiller known as the “Cherry Bounce King.” The sources support a notable North Carolina tradition, but do not establish that the drink originated there or that it is definitively the state’s oldest drink.
What is Cherry Bounce?
Cherry Bounce is an infusion-style drink or liqueur made by steeping cherries in alcohol, often with a sweetener. There is no single fixed formula in the sources: one modern recipe uses sugar and spirits, while the version associated with Amos Owens is described as whiskey, honey, and cherries.
That distinction matters. A contemporary home recipe is not proof of what an early historical version contained, and a North Carolina connection does not by itself establish where the drink began.
Why is Cherry Bounce associated with North Carolina?
Amos Owens and Cherry Mountain
The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources identifies Amos Owens as the “Cherry Bounce King” and associates his drink with Cherry Mountain in Rutherford County. The department describes it as a mixture of whiskey, honey, and cherries made at Owens’s “castle.” It says people came from across the South to taste it and that Owens continued distilling it and hosted summer gatherings around the cherry harvest. Owens died on September 18, 1906. North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
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This account documents a notable North Carolina tradition, not the drink’s definitive origin or a statewide “oldest drink” ranking.
The Raleigh tavern story
A Raleigh historical feature notes that Isaac Hunter received a tavern license in 1762 and that Raleigh was chartered in 1792. A committee later selected the capital’s location within ten miles of Hunter’s popular tavern. Cherry Bounce is offered as one theory for the tavern’s appeal, and the feature says both Hunter’s and Joel Lane’s taverns would have served it. That is an anecdote about the drink’s possible place in local tavern life—not evidence that Cherry Bounce caused Raleigh to become the capital. Raleigh Public Record
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How do you make Cherry Bounce?
Kate Pattison’s 2009 Raleigh Public Record article gives this home recipe as one option, not a definitive historical formula:
- 4 cups fresh cherries
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 cups spirits: whiskey or brandy are described as traditional; vodka and bourbon are also suggested
- Optional flavorings: lemon peel, allspice, nutmeg, ginger, or mace
- Put the cherries, sugar, spirits, and any chosen flavorings in an airtight glass infusion jar with a secure lid.
- Steep for 6 weeks to 6 months, stirring or shaking periodically until the sugar dissolves.
- Remove the cherries and squeeze them before serving.
The recipe gives a broad steeping window rather than a single required duration. Its ingredients and method are those of a published modern home recipe; they should not be presented as a verified reproduction of Owens’s or a colonial-era drink. Raleigh Public Record
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Is there a bottled North Carolina Cherry Bounce?
Yes. The North Carolina ABC Commission lists NC Cherry Bounce Whiskey from South Mountain Distilling, item code 20160, in a 0.75 L bottle at 90 proof. Its page shows a $130.35 retail price with effective dates in 2023 and 2024, so that figure is not a current-price quote; check local listings for present availability and pricing. North Carolina ABC Commission
South Mountain Distilling describes its whiskey as aged corn whiskey with honey and black cherries, aged two years. The distillery also presents a Cherry Bounce Moonshine. Its published product page is evidence of the modern product concept, but displayed limited-batch or price language may not reflect current stock. South Mountain Distilling
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How does the home recipe differ from the bottled whiskey?
| Feature | Published home recipe | South Mountain Cherry Bounce Whiskey |
|---|---|---|
| Base and fruit | Spirits such as whiskey or brandy, with fresh cherries; vodka and bourbon are also suggested. Raleigh Public Record | Aged corn whiskey and black cherries. South Mountain Distilling |
| Sweetener | Sugar. Raleigh Public Record | Honey. South Mountain Distilling |
| Infusion or aging time | Steep 6 weeks to 6 months. Raleigh Public Record | Aged two years, according to the distillery. South Mountain Distilling |
| Proof and bottle size | Not stated in the recipe. Raleigh Public Record | 90 proof; 0.75 L bottle, according to the North Carolina ABC listing. North Carolina ABC Commission |
| Current availability and price | Not applicable to the recipe. | Current stock and price are not established by the dated listing; check local availability. North Carolina ABC Commission |
These are different expressions of Cherry Bounce rather than directly interchangeable products. South Mountain Distilling owner Don Smith says on the distillery page, “We wanted to bring this coveted beverage back to life in North Carolina.” That is the producer’s stated aim, not independent historical verification of an exact original recipe. South Mountain Distilling
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