(a) Cherry Liqueur
Ingredients
- 1lb (450g) - sour cherries (morello cherries)
- 1½ pints (900ml) - vodka
- 12oz (350g) - caster sugar
Method
- Wash and check the cherries to ensure they are not bruised. Remove the stalks.
- Place them in a wide necked tightly lidded jar, add the vodka. Shake the jar.
- Store in a cool dry place shaking the jar daily for the first three or four days and then at least once a week for 3-4 weeks.
- After 3-4 weeks add the sugar and stir to help it to dissolve.
- Stir at least once a week for a further 3-4 weeks.
- After 3-4 weeks filter the mixture and transfer the liqueur to a bottle. Add some more sugar if necessary.
- The liqueur should mellow for at least 4 months before drinking, preferably 8 months.
This recipe can also be made with sweet cherries but the flavour will be slightly different.
(b) Cherry Brandy
Ingredients
- Sound Morella cherries
- Good French brandy
- To each pound of cherries allow: 3oz soft brown sugar
- 12 apricot kernels
- ¼ inch cinnamon stick
Method
- Cut off the stalks, leaving about ½ inch in length. Wipe the cherries with a soft cloth and prick them with a coarse darning needle.
- Half fill wide necked jars with the prepared fruit and add the required amount of apricot kernels, sugar and cinnamon stick.
- Fill the jars with brandy.
- Seal the jars tightly and keep for at least three months.
- When required drain and filter.
(c) Park Farm Cherry Gin
Ingredients
- Fresh, fully ripened, but not bruised, cherries
- Gin
- Granulated sugar
- ½ - 1 vanilla pod cut lengthways per container
- Kilner type jar or wide-necked air-tight jars/bottles
Method
- Remove the stalks from the cherries then wash and drain them.
- Prick each one 5 - 10 times with a darning needle and place in your chosen container until the cherries almost reach the top.
- Pour in some sugar and shake it down the jar until is comes approximately a quarter of the way up the container.
- Pour in the gin until it completely covers the fruit.
- Seal the jar/bottle and shake well.
- Shake the jar once a day for a week to help dissolve the sugar.
This is ready to drink in 2 weeks but is better left until Christmas before you filter it off the fruit. The remaining fruit can be added to desserts. It is said to last after 20 years but as ours has never lasted that long I couldn’t tell you if this is true.