Popular all over Eastern Europe, I’ve been served this liqueur as an after dinner drink in Polish restaurants. That happened recently on a trip to Lodz, on the very day that I had just purchased cherries from a vendor in the pedestrian underpass. At 6.5 zl per kilogram (about $1.10 per pound) I couldn’t pass them by. We ate the first kilogram, so I bought a second one to bring home and turn into Wisniak. I’m sure Ed could see the “I can make this” light bulb appear over my head as we sipped our cordials.
Similar in taste to our Cherry La La (which is ready in a week rather than months), Wisniak is fruity and very smooth – an ideal way to end a meal. I’ve been told that if you make Wisniak when cherries first come into season, it reaches perfection in time for the holidays and should be served with a honey cake. I don’t know if I’ll be able to wait that long.
This can be made with sweet or sour cherries, although officially with sour cherries this is called wisniowka. In either case, you may want to adjust the sugar according to your taste and the sweetness of your fruit.
Na zdrowie!
Lois
PS – Can convince you to give this a try. It’s now December; I left my jars of Wisniak undisturbed for months and months. My patience has been rewarded! I just now strained out the cherries; the cherry liqueur left behind is dark, fruity, sweet, and smooth. I will make much more next summer when cherries are in season. It’s so wonderful, that I want to share it with everyone I know!
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PinDescription
Homemade cherry infused vodka = heaven on earth
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 pounds pitted cherries
- 1 cup sugar (I used superfine sugar because I had some on hand)
- l liter vodka (4 – 5 cups, enough to fill container(s)
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in sterile containers. (I submerged the jars and lids in boiling water for 10 minutes.) The total volume of your container(s) should be half a gallon
- Shake or swirl daily until sugar has dissolved, it takes a few days
- Store the containers (in pantry or basement) for 4 to 6 weeks, strain and re-bottle
- Allow to age 2 to 4 months
Notes
I sometimes substitute brandy for a small portion of the vodka, maybe 1 cup. I just think brandy and cherries go so well together.
If you this with sour cherries, you have wisniowka!
Keywords: infused vodka, cherry vodka, Polish cherry vodka
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| Within hours, osmosis has begun |
