Sour Cherry Liqueur Recipes

Steps:

• Wash and remove the stems from the cherries.
• Place a layer of cherries in a 4-quart jar and cover with a ½ inch layer of sugar.
• Continue layering cherries and sugar in this manner, ending with sugar.
• Add the spices and vodka.
• Seal jar.
• Place in a spot that receives the most sunlight during the day.
• Leave to macerate for 4 weeks.
• Add the brandy.
• Seal tightly and let stand another 2 weeks, shaking every so often.
• Strain into another bottle.
• Discard spices.
• Put cherries back in the bottle.
• Store in a cool, dark place.
• To serve: Pour into your pretties liqueur glass (the liqueur is ruby-red) and add 1-2 cherries to each glass.

Steps:

• Put the cherries into a 1-quart Mason jar, and cover with the sugar.
• Seal the jar and shake it several times, until the cherries are well coated with sugar.
• Add the vodka, reseal, and shake the jar a few more times to mix.
• Set aside in a cool, dark place for 4 weeks.
• Strain the mixture through a fine sieve into a 4-cup glass measuring cup.
• If desired, transfer the liqueur to a decanter.
• The Sour Cherry Vodka should be ready to drink immediately and has a shelf life of 2 to 3 months.

Steps:

• Use only fully ripened, unblemished fruit.
• Wash and remove stems and pits.
• Chop and mash fruit.
• Place in a plastic container or large glass bottle.
• Dissolve sugar in the vodka or brandy.
• Pour over the fruit.
• Cover and let sit in a cool dark place for 4 to 6 months.
• Strain out the fruit and bottle.
• Your cherry brandy is ready to drink!

Steps:

• Place the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and thyme and cook for 1-2 minutes or until just golden. Add the cherries, orange rind, liqueur, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper and stir to combine. Bring to the boil and cook for 30-35 minutes or until reduced and glossy. Allow to cool completely at room temperature.

Steps:

• 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 the first two weeks, shake jars several times.
• Let 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 or part of the cherries.
• Place cherry pits in a clean cloth and hit with a hammer to break them 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 the sugar in the Cherry Liqueur recipe.
• Proceed as directed.
• The"sugars" present will be natural fruit sugars rather than the granulated processed sugars.
• Taste is excellent; aging is the same.

Steps:

• Bring cherries, sugar, wine, lemon juice, and salt to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Cook for 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer cherries to a bowl. Raise heat to medium-high, and cook until mixture is syrupy, about 5 minutes. Let cool completely. Return cherries to syrup. (Cherries in syrup can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 month.)
• Fill 8 glasses with ice. Pour 2 tablespoons gin and 2 tablespoons syrup into each glass, and add 5 cherries. Divide seltzer among glasses (1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons each). Garnish with fresh cherries and lemon zest strips, if desired. Serve immediately.