Cherry Mojito

from Martha Stewart via YumSugar

• Ready In: 20 mins
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄4 cups sugar
• 1 1⁄4 cups fresh lime juice (about 9 limes)
• 3  lbs  dark cherries
• 2 1⁄4 cups  black cherry vodka or 2 1⁄4 cups  plain vodka
• 1 (750 ml) bottle sparkling water

Directions

1. Bring sugar and 1 1/4 cups water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved.
2. Remove from heat; let cool completely. (Makes about 2 cups syrup.) Syrup can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 month.
3. Put lime juice into a medium nonreactive bowl. Halve 2/3 of the cherries; add all cherries to lime juice. Stir in syrup. Refrigerate at least 1 hour (up to overnight).
4. Stir cherry mixture and vodka in a large serving bowl.
5. Fill 12 glasses with ice. Spoon 1/2 cup cherry-vodka mixture into each glass.
6. Top with sparkling water; serve immediately.