Tart Cherry Liqueur – Lynn’s Recipe

Handcrafted Tart Cherry Liqueur, a sipping liqueur, consists of tart cherries, vodka/100 proof, tart cherry juice steeped for 6 weeks. Optional: almond extract, cinnamon, cloves, vanilla

Course beverage, Dessert, Drinks, holiday

Cuisine Lynn Roth

Keyword alcohol, cherry, drinks, liqueur

Servings oz

Author llroth

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 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 was 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%.
[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 and filter liqueur, then bottle.
Sip the Tart Cherry Liqueur straight, with milk, chocolate, over ice cream, 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 with sugar. It sneaks up on you.