Posted by: pwhayes 06-16-99 7:48 PM
Liqueurs by pwhayes
Cherry Liqueur
Yield: about 1 quart
1 1/2 pounds red cherries, with pits, no stems
1 1/2 cups sugar, (up to 2 cups), sweeten to taste
2 1/2 cups vodka
1 cup brandy
Mix vodka, brandy and sugar in a large glass measure or medium mixing bowl; stir well to dissolve.
Cut each washed cherry slightly to open, leave in pits.
Place cherries in two sterile, quart wide mouth jars or one larger aging container.
Pour liquid mixture over cherries; stir and cap with tight lids.
For first two weeks, shake jars several times. Age in a cool, dark place for at least 3 months for best flavor.
Strain off liqueur through a wire mesh strainer and discard
cherries. Rebottle as desired. Liqueur is ready in 3 months.
Variations:
Almond-Cherry Liqueur: For a more prominent "almond" flavor, pit all and reserve all parts of cherries. Place cherry pits in a clean cloth and hit with a hammer to break up slightly. Put broken pits and pitted cherries in jars or large container and continue as directed.
Sugarless Cherry Liqueur: Substitute 1 cup apple juice concentrate, undiluted, for sugar in Cherry Liqueur recipe. Proceed as directed. The "sugars" present will be natural fruit sugars rather than granulated processed sugars. Taste is excellent; age as directed above.