Tart Cherry Liqueur – Lynn’s Recipe
Handcrafted Tart Cherry Sipping Liqueur, consists of tart cherries, vodka/100 proof, tart cherry juice steeped together for 6 weeks. Optional: almond extract, cinnamon, cloves, vanilla
Servings 192 oz
Cost $120
Equipment
- 1 2 gal glass container with faucet, wide mouth lid tip: Two is just as easy as one.
- Glass Bottles: 2, 4, 8 oz or more Store with other liquors. Not to be stored in refrigerator or freezer.
- 1 crockpot or saucepan
- Cheesecloth, nylon filters, coffee filters, funnels, strainers This removes sediments from steeping stage, producing a clear product. Sediments not filtered out may shorten shelf life and storage.
Ingredients
- 5 lbs tart cherries, fresh or frozen Stones removed
- 7 c vodka, 100 proof Svdeka is what I used.
- 3 c sugar, granulated [for layering]
- 2½ c sugar, granulated [for simple syrup] Add to juice to make simple syrup
- 7 c tart cherry juice, reduced by 50% used an open crockpot 400 degrees, several hours.
- 2 T almond extract [optional]
- 1 T cinnamon or cinnamon stick [optional]
- 1 T cloves [optional]
- 1 T vanilla, or 1 vanilla bean [optional]
Instructions
- Prepare fresh or frozen tart cherries, removed stones. Place in 2 gal glass container.Layer the cherries and 3 c sugar. Stir until all the cherries are well coated with the sugar.
- Let set overnight. The sugar and cherries begin fermenting, with bubbles and foam forming on top overnight. I let it set a full 24 hrs.
- Fill an open crock pot with organic tart cherry juice. Heat to 400 degrees for 6 or more hours until the volume is reduced by 50%. Cool before adding.
- Simple Syrup: 1 part juice: 2 parts sugar. Heat to 400 degrees in crockpot or saucepan for 30 min. Cool before adding to liqueur volume.
- Add the vodka and cooled cherry juice reduced by 50%. [To increase volume, add 1:1 vodka:cherry juice reduced 50%]
- [optional] Add almond or vanilla extract, cinnamon stick, cloves
- Stir daily for up to 6 weeks, dissolving the sugar, and helping the steeping process. Place in a cool, less bright location. The longer it steeps, the deeper, more complex the flavors.When the cherries fall to the bottom of the jar, it is ready, some say.Of course diagnostic tasting may be done at any time!
- Strain. Filter liqueur twice, then bottle in sterile glass.
- Sip the Tart Cherry Liqueur straight, with milk, chocolate, over ice cream, tonic water, coke soda, and of course, over your cereal.Store in glass bottles on shelf, out of heat or sun. Do not refrigerate. It ages well.Keep from children's reach. Remember it's 100 proof. It sneaks up on you.
Notes
Tart Cherry Liqueurorganic, 100 proof liqueur. tart cherries, vodka, tart cherry 100% juice, sugar May be sipped as is or with cream, over ice, mix in drinks, desserts, toppings. I created this recipe after review many recipes and processes used by many others over the ages.
To increase volume, add 1:1 vodka:cherry juice reduced 50%
Nutrition
Serving: 1oz
