Cherries Jubilee

Summer fruit. How can you really go wrong? I look forward to this time of year all year. Fresh watermelon, the ripest peaches, tomatoes, and my favorite: CHERRIES!


You see them everywhere right now - at the grocery store and at the farmers market. Seeing those dark, ripe cherries always makes me think of homemade cocktail cherries. You may ask yourself what the point is. Can’t you just buy those bright maraschino cherries in a jar that last forever?



It really couldn’t be any easier.



By taking the time now, in just a few months you can enjoy tasty cocktails during fall and winter.



I start with pitting the cherries (trying to leave a stem on them, just because I think it adds a nice look.) If you don’t have a cherry pitter, I recommend getting one - they are pretty inexpensive and are available at most food gadget stores (This really saves time and is much less messy.)




The next step is to take a huge jar (with a lid) and fill it with the cherries. Next, pour a bottle of bourbon on top. Then add ½ cup of brown sugar. You could also add a vanilla pod if you like as well. Cover and you are done. It’s just that simple. You could place this in your refrigerator if you want. I feel like it takes up too much room, so I put it on a shelf in my pantry. You don’t have to worry about the cherries going bad, as the alcohol will prevent that from happening.




I really don’t do much at all to the mixture for months. If you wanted to, you could stir or turn the container that the mixture lives in. You could leave it for a few weeks, but I think that at least 3-6 months is a good amount of time. This is the kind of thing that gets better with age.



I think that this makes a lovely gift and is far better than the fake maraschino cherries that you get at the store. I personally like the way that the cherry liquor tastes in cocktails- so with this I suggest using a quality spirit that you would actually consume on its own.




I think that you will love the way the bourbon adds that smoky oakiness to the cherries, and how the cherries give their sweetness to the bourbon.