For cherry lovers everywhere, there's this gift-worthy Cherry-Cinnamon Liqueur which is fantastic in a spritz. The recipe calls for a pound of fresh or frozen cherries; include some sour ones for nuanced flavor. When bottling this elixir, include a few of the vodka-soaked cherries from the recipe; they make exceptionally tasty cocktail garnishes.
Directions
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Combine cherries, cinnamon sticks, and vodka in a large non-reactive jar. Cover and let stand at room temperature 2 to 3 days. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, reserving fruit. Stir in simple syrup and almond extract to taste.
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Divide among clean jars. Add some of reserved fruit, if desired. (Remaining cherries can be refrigerated up to 1 month; send a small jar of extras along with the liqueur, or save them for yourself—they're great in Manhattans!) Refrigerate up to 3 months.
Cook's Notes
You can download the free, printable gift tags you see on the bottles here.
