The Cherry Bomb: a Mocktail for Dry January

Dry January Mocktail: The Cherry Bomb, A Mocktail with Benefits

If you’re participating in Dry January this year, you’ve probably noticed something: most mocktails are basically sparkling juice with a fancy ice cube. They’re sweet, they’re boring, and they definitely don’t make you feel like you’re treating yourself to something special.

But what if I told you there’s a mocktail recipe that tastes good and comes packed with ingredients that support your health? No, seriously. And this isn’t one of those “wellness drinks” that tastes like grass clippings and regret.

Enter The Cherry Bomb – a tangy, fizzy, slightly zingy drink that will make you forget you’re not drinking alcohol. I was inspired by a mocktail that I tried at Hinterland Brewery in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It was surprisingly refreshing and, as I found out after returning to Portland, pretty easy to replicate. And the best part? Every ingredient in this mocktail is easy to access and may even support your body. 

You can find tart cherry juice at most grocery stores, while apple cider vinegar is a staple in both supermarkets and health food stores. Hop water can usually be found in specialty beverage sections or online, with brands like HOPWTR offering several flavors. If hop water is unavailable, you can use plain sparkling water as an alternative.

Why Dry January?

We’ve talked about alcohol and cancer on the podcast before – and the science is pretty clear. Even moderate drinking comes with risks. But Dry January isn’t about shaming anyone or making you feel bad about what you drink the other eleven months of the year. It’s a reset. A chance to see how you feel when you take a break.

And honestly? Most people feel great. Better sleep, clearer skin, more energy, less bloating, maybe even some weight loss. It’s like giving your liver a little vacation.

But you still want something fun to drink, right? Something that feels special when you’re out with friends or unwinding after a long day. Enter The Cherry Bomb.

The Recipe:

Ingredients

• 2 oz tart cherry juice
• 1/2 oz apple cider vinegar (ACV)
• Big squeeze of fresh lime juice (about 1 tsp, you can also use bottled lime juice)
• Hop water to top it off (I like lime HOPWTR)
• Ice (Optional, if all ingredients are cold, you can omit the ice)
• Optional: fresh lime wheel for garnish

How to make it:

1. Fill a rocks glass with ice
2. Add your tart cherry juice, apple cider vinegar, and lime juice
3. Give it a little stir
4. Top with hop water
5. Garnish with a lime wheel if you’re feeling fancy

That’s it. Easy to make, and it tastes like a grown-up drink. It’s not too sweet, a little tart, with some complexity from the ACV and lime, and a nice fizzy finish from the hop water.

Why these ingredients matter

Tart Cherry Juice: The Anti-Inflammatory Powerhouse

Tart cherry juice isn’t just delicious – it has been studied for all kinds of health benefits. It is loaded with antioxidants, particularly anthocyanins, which give tart cherries their deep red color.

Here’s what makes tart cherries interesting from a health perspective:

Sleep support: Tart cherries are one of the few natural food sources of melatonin. Some people swear by tart cherry juice to help them sleep better, which is kind of ironic since one of the reasons people drink alcohol is to relax – even though alcohol actually disrupts sleep quality.

Anti-inflammatory properties: Chronic inflammation is linked to a multitude of health issues, including cancer. The antioxidants in tart cherry juice may help reduce inflammation in the body. Athletes often drink it to help with muscle recovery and soreness.

Gout relief: If you’ve ever known someone with gout, you know how painful it can be. Some research suggests that tart cherry juice might help reduce uric acid levels and lower the risk of gout attacks.

For this mocktail, we’re using just a couple of ounces of juice, so you’re getting a nice dose of these compounds without overdoing the sugar (yes, even 100% juice has natural sugars). Roughly, you can expect around 8 grams of natural sugar per serving from the tart cherry juice. If you're looking to reduce the sugar content further, you can opt for a lower-sugar tart cherry juice or dilute it slightly with more sparkling or hop water. Health-conscious drinkers will appreciate this option as it fits into their dietary goals.

Apple Cider Vinegar: The Gut Health Hero

Okay, I know what you’re thinking: “Apple cider vinegar? In a drink? On purpose?”

Yes! Adding ACV to a mocktail balances any sweetness from the juice, and the acidity adds a bite that, along with bubbles, mimics the mouth-feel of alcoholic beverages. It also is having a moment in the wellness world, and while some of the claims are exaggerated, there is science behind a few of its benefits.

Blood sugar balance: Some studies show that ACV may help improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar spikes after meals. This in no way means it is a cure for diabetes, but stable blood sugar means more stable energy levels.

Digestive support: The “mother” in raw, unfiltered ACV contains beneficial bacteria (probiotics) that can support gut health. And as we’ve talked about on the podcast, gut health is connected to pretty much everything – including immune function. The tanginess of the ACV might also stimulate appetite, so try it before a meal.

That tangy kick: Apple cider vinegar also adds a sophisticated, tangy flavor to drinks. It’s that little something that makes a mocktail taste more complex and less like kiddie juice.

We’re only using half an ounce (~1 TBSP) here, which is enough to get the flavor and benefits without making your drink taste like you’re doing a wellness shot. Mixed with the sweet-tart cherry juice and lime, it adds depth without being overpowering.

Hops: Not Just for Beer Anymore

You may know hops as one of the ingredients in beer, but hop water is a whole different thing – and it’s perfect for Dry January.

Hop water is basically sparkling water infused with hops (and sometimes other adaptogens like ashwagandha (HOPWTR), which we’ve covered in our adaptogens episode). It has a slightly bitter, familiar herbal flavor that tricks your brain into feeling like you are drinking something more than just bubbly water.

But hops themselves have some health benefits:

Calming effects: Hops have been traditionally used to promote relaxation and improve sleep. They contain compounds, xanthohumols, that may have mild sedative effects and increase GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, that promotes relaxation.

Antioxidant properties: Like many plants, hops contain antioxidants (those same xanthohumols mentioned above) that may help protect cells from damage.

That beer-like quality: Hops gives that familiar, slightly bitter, complex flavor profile that makes this mocktail feel like an “adult” drink.

You can use any available hop water, but HOPWTR specifically includes adaptogens like ashwagandha and L-theanine, which also may help with relaxation. Learn more about ashwagandha in our adaptogens post and listen to Slay Stress with Adaptogens from Season Two.

Fresh Lime Juice:

Fresh lime juice is pretty straightforward – it’s bright, acidic, and contains vitamin C. Try using fresh, or at least the kind in glass bottles, not the bright green plastic lime. The flavor is so much fresher, you will taste the difference. Is the amount in the mocktail enough to prevent scurvy? No, but it still provides a tartness that balances the tart cherry and ACV.

Make Dry January Actually Enjoyable

The reason a lot of people fail at Dry January isn’t that they’re addicted to alcohol – it’s because they miss the ritual. The unwinding with a drink after work. The social aspect of having something in your hand at a party. The feeling of treating yourself. The sensation of relaxing.

This mocktail checks all those boxes. It takes time to make, so it feels intentional. It looks pretty (pink!) in a glass. It tastes complex and interesting, not like something that came out of a juice box. And honestly, it makes you feel good afterward instead of sluggish and sleepy.

Tips for Customizing Your Cherry Bomb

Adjust the tartness: Some people like things more sour than others. Start with the measurements above, then add more lime or ACV if you want it tangier, or a tiny splash more cherry juice if you want it sweeter.

Try different hop waters: There are tons of brands now – HOPWTR, Hoplark, Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher. Some are more bitter, some are more citrusy. The lime HOPWTR is perfect for this recipe, but experiment with what you like.

Make it spicy: A thin slice of jalapeño muddled in the glass before you add the other ingredients gives this drink a nice kick.

Herbal upgrade: A sprig of fresh rosemary or basil makes this feel extra fancy and adds an aromatic element.

Batch it: Hosting a Dry January party? Mix the cherry juice, ACV, and lime juice in a pitcher ahead of time, then let people top their own glasses with sparkling hop water. To ensure freshness, store the pre-mixed base in a sealed container in the fridge. It should keep well for up to two days, making it convenient to prepare in advance.

Beyond Dry January

One of the things we talk about a lot on The Cancer Pod is that cancer prevention isn’t about one perfect food or one perfect habit. It’s about the accumulation of small, sustainable choices over time.

Swapping out a few alcoholic drinks for something like The Cherry Bomb isn’t going to single-handedly prevent cancer. But it’s part of a bigger picture: reducing alcohol intake (which we know is linked to cancer risk), staying hydrated, getting more antioxidants and beneficial compounds from whole food sources, and maintaining healthy habits that you can stick with.

This isn’t some green juice cleanse that you suffer through for three days and then abandon. This is a drink you might genuinely want to make even after January is over, because it tastes good and makes you feel good.

Whether you’re doing Dry January as a full reset or just cutting back, having go-to mocktail recipes in your back pocket is key. The Cherry Bomb is one of those recipes that you’ll probably come back to even when you’re not abstaining completely. You can drink it on weeknights and save alcohol for weekends. You might alternate – one alcoholic drink, one mocktail. Or maybe you discover that you actually prefer this, and you’re not missing alcohol as much as you thought you would.

However you approach it, the goal is the same: making choices that support your health without feeling like you’re depriving yourself.

Dry January doesn’t have to be boring. With the right recipes and ingredients, you can create drinks that are genuinely delicious, genuinely interesting, and perhaps even good for you.

The Cherry Bomb brings together tart cherry juice for antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits, apple cider vinegar for gut health and blood sugar balance, hops for that satisfying bitter complexity, and fresh lime for brightness. It is tart, fizzy, and pretty enough to feel special.

So, grab your ingredients, mix up a glass, and toast to a healthier start to the year. Your liver will thank you, your sleep may improve, and you might just discover that you don’t miss alcohol quite as much as you thought you would.

Cheers!