Homemade Brandy Cherries: Elevate Your Cocktails with Gourmet Soaked Perfection
Forget those neon-red, overly sweet maraschino cherries! If you’re ready to truly elevate your cocktail game, then these Homemade Brandy Cherries are an absolute must-have. Plump, perfectly tart cherries are lovingly infused in a rich blend of tart cherry juice, premium brandy, and aromatic spiced rum. The result is a sophisticated, deeply flavored garnish that far surpasses anything you’ll find in a store-bought jar, transforming your favorite drinks from good to extraordinary. They’re also an incredibly thoughtful and impressive gift for any cocktail enthusiast in your life.
Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I will receive a small commission, which helps support this site and allows me to continue bringing you delicious recipes and tips.
Why Homemade Brandy Cherries Are a Game Changer for Your Home Bar
Do you, like me, appreciate the subtle elegance and complex flavors that a truly great cocktail cherry brings to a drink? For aficionados of classic cocktails, especially a perfectly crafted Manhattan, the garnish isn’t just an afterthought – it’s an integral part of the experience. We’re not talking about those saccharine, artificially colored maraschino cherries you find in abundance; we’re talking about those dark, luxurious cherries that offer a delightful balance of sweet and tart, with a captivating boozy kick that harmonizes beautifully with your chosen libation.
You’ve undoubtedly encountered these exquisite cherries at your favorite upscale cocktail bars. Perhaps you’ve even sought them out at a specialty liquor store, eager to replicate that sophisticated bar experience at home. However, if you’ve ventured down that path, you’ve likely noticed their often exorbitant price tag. High-quality gourmet cocktail cherries can be surprisingly expensive, making them a luxurious indulgence rather than a regular staple for your home bar. This is precisely why embracing the art of making your own is such a brilliant idea.
The Advantages of Crafting Your Own Soaked Cherries
Making your own brandy cherries at home offers a multitude of benefits, far beyond just cost savings. When you create them yourself, you gain complete control over the ingredients, ensuring superior quality and a truly personalized flavor profile. You can choose the freshest, most flavorful tart cherries, select your preferred brandy and spiced rum, and adjust the sweetness and spice levels to your exact liking. This hands-on approach guarantees a product free from artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives often found in commercial versions.
The process itself is surprisingly simple and incredibly rewarding. These homemade brandy cherries are soaked in a carefully crafted syrup combining sweet and tart cherry juice with warming spices, before being enriched with premium brandy and spiced rum. They require minimal effort to assemble and, after a simple overnight refrigeration, are ready to impart their exquisite flavor to any cocktail. In essence, this is the next essential recipe for anyone serious about their cocktails or looking for a truly unique culinary project.
The Perfect Pair: Brandy, Spiced Rum, and Tart Cherries
The magic of these homemade delights lies in the thoughtful combination of ingredients. Let’s delve into what makes each component crucial to the final, delectable outcome:
- Cherries: While sweet cherries can work, tart cherries (like Montmorency) are truly ideal for this recipe. Their natural acidity provides a fantastic counterpoint to the sweetness of the syrup and the richness of the spirits, ensuring the cherries don’t become cloying. Fresh cherries are always preferred when in season, but high-quality frozen tart cherries (thawed and drained) are an excellent substitute, making this recipe accessible year-round. Remember to stem and pit them thoroughly.
- Brandy: A good quality brandy brings a sophisticated, fruity, and slightly oaky depth to the cherries. It’s a classic pairing that enhances the natural cherry flavor without overpowering it. You don’t need the most expensive Cognac, but avoid anything labeled “cooking brandy.”
- Spiced Rum: This is where an extra layer of complexity and warmth comes in. Aged spiced rum, with its notes of vanilla, cinnamon, and sometimes even orange peel or ginger, complements the other spices in the syrup beautifully and adds a unique, inviting aroma.
- Tart Cherry Juice: This reinforces the cherry flavor, creating a more intense and authentic base for the infusion. It also contributes to the desired tartness.
- Turbinado Sugar: Unlike refined white sugar, turbinado sugar has a slightly coarser texture and a subtle molasses-like flavor, adding a richer, more nuanced sweetness to the syrup.
- Cinnamon Stick & Freshly Ground Nutmeg: These warming spices are essential for the “spiced” element, infusing the syrup with comforting, aromatic notes that are perfect for autumnal and winter cocktails, but delightful all year.
Beyond the Garnish: Versatile Uses for Your Homemade Brandy Cherries
Having a batch of these exquisite homemade brandy cherries on hand has become a staple in my kitchen, especially since my husband absolutely adores Manhattans for cocktail hour. But their utility extends far beyond just garnishing a classic drink.
These cherries also make an absolutely incredible gift! They’re a fantastic choice for holiday presents, hostess gifts, or a thoughtful gesture for any friend who appreciates fine spirits and gourmet treats. You can store them in standard-sized mason jars, or for smaller, charming gifts, pack them into miniature mason jars. Adorn them with a simple ribbon and a handwritten tag, and you have a personalized, delicious present that truly impresses.
Once you experience their rich flavor, you’ll find yourself reaching for these brandy-soaked beauties to garnish nearly every cocktail imaginable – and you certainly won’t be disappointed! They are a simple yet impactful way to elevate your home bar, making every drink feel a little more special and luxurious. They truly are an investment in your enjoyment!
Cocktail Inspiration: What to Pair with Your Brandy Cherries
Need some inspiration for how to best utilize these glorious cherries? Here are some of my personal favorite cocktails that are magnificently enhanced by their presence:
- Tart Cherry Fizz: The brandy cherries add depth and a lovely boozy kick to this refreshing drink.
- Cherry Whiskey Smash: Doubling down on the cherry goodness with an extra layer of complex flavor.
- Jameson Manhattan: The ultimate classic pairing. The robust whiskey and vermouth sing with the rich, spiced cherry notes.
- Old Fashioned: A fantastic alternative to an orange peel, adding a fruity, boozy sweetness.
- Whiskey Sour: The tartness of the cherry beautifully complements the lemon.
- Champagne Cocktail: Drop one into a flute of sparkling wine for a festive and elegant twist.
So, which cocktail will be the first to receive the distinguished garnish of these homemade brandy cherries? For me, the answer will forever be the timeless Manhattan. It’s a pairing that simply can’t be beaten, a true testament to the enduring appeal of quality ingredients.
Essential Equipment for Making Brandy Cherries
This Recipe’s Must-Haves
To store your freshly made brandy cherries, I highly recommend using standard Ball Glass Mason Jars. They are incredibly versatile for so many kitchen tasks, making a set of 12 a wise investment. You can also find them conveniently packaged in sets of 6!
When you’re preparing the aromatic spiced syrup for the cherries (before you introduce the alcohol), two tools are consistently reliable and invaluable in my kitchen: the OXO Good Grips Wooden Corner Spoon & Scraper for thorough stirring and scraping, and the durable All-Clad SS Copper Core 5-Ply Bonded Dishwasher Safe Saucepan with Lid for even heat distribution and reliable performance. These are truly my go-to items for tasks like this!
Pin This Homemade Brandy Cherries Recipe for Later!
Don’t forget to save this incredible recipe so you can come back to it whenever you’re ready to make a fresh batch or inspire a friend! Pin this Homemade Brandy Cherries recipe to your favorite cocktail or recipe board.
Homemade Brandy Cherries
equipment
-
saucepan
-
Wooden Spoon & Scraper
-
Mason Jars
ingredients
- 1/2 cup turbinado sugar
- 1/2 cup tart cherry juice
- 1 stick cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
- Pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup brandy
- 1/2 cup aged spiced rum
- 1 lb cherries stemmed and pitted
instructions
-
Add sugar, cherry juice, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt to a medium saucepan. Bring to a low simmer over medium heat. Simmer until the sugar has completely dissolved, stirring frequently.
-
Remove from heat and stir in brandy and rum until combined.
-
Stir in cherries until coated.
-
Store in clean mason jars, cooling to room temperature before placing in the refrigerator. Refrigerate overnight before serving.