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Monday, July 4

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.

18 comments:

Design Elements said...

love cherries! lovely images

My Notting Hill said...

I am so doing this. A bourbon & ginger ale with 3 cherries is one of my favorite drinks. Have you ever had Hudson Baby Bourbon whiskey? It's made by Tuthilltown Spirits in NY and is my all time favorite. Plus the bottles are so cute!

http://tuthilltown.com/products/aged-spirits/hudson-baby-bourbon-whiskey

Paisley Curtain said...

This is great. I have the gadget and have always used it to pit olives, never got into my mind to pit the cherries too. (we can get dumb at times).

'am going to try your recipe today, sure it must be good.

kayce hughes said...

I am so excited to try it!

Anonymous said...

Yummy!

Dean Farris, Designer

Anonymous said...

GKG--That was truly inspiring...finally a maraschino with a little class...lol!

Marcus Thomson

Anonymous said...

Stop it, Grant--you're killing me! I now want nothing more than to throw myself into a vat of bourbon-laden dark red cherries. Ahh, what a way to go.

Meg in Portland

Anonymous said...

Sounds good

Suzanna

Sent from my iPad

katiedid said...

Grant,
You are, as ever, the perfect host. Perfect idea! Farmers Market, here I come!!

KhakiGuy said...

Wow, what a great gift idea for a cocktail imbibing semi-foodie friend of mine. Thanks for the great post!

GRAYSONFAVOUR said...

As WCFields said
Drown in a vat of whisky? Death where is thy sting?

Anonymous said...

This is a great gift idea, Grant! My hubby is going to be thrilled...

All The Trappings said...

Yes! Great recipe. Definitely something to give my sassafrass neighbors. They'll love them :)

xoxo,

Andrea

Laura Stockett Roberts said...

I'm on this one! I squeeze fresh lemons and limes and make up a simple syrup for whiskey sours... and these would be so much better than the fake cherries I garnish with now. Thanks for the great idea!

the modern sybarite ™ said...

Nothing better than a sour cherry pie. How delicious are these photos! Thanks for making me hungry .. again!!!!

Emily said...

I love cherries! Cherry piters are great for making cherry pie, which is a favorite of mine in the summer! The pictures came out very nice too and the cherries look beautiful! I think I will go eat some now.

Michelle H. said...

Hey Grant! Long time no see and so I decided to check out your blog to see what's happening! I don't drink hard alcohol, but love this idea, it looks yummy. I hope you're doing great.

Grant K. Gibson said...

I am on my second batch of these. Can you ever really make enough?

 

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