| Ingredients | ||
| 4 kg | Cherries (weight before pitting) | |
| 1 kg | Cherries (keep the stones in) | |
| 5 kg | Sugar | |
| 1 ltr | Water | |
| Polish Spirit |
Method
Layer in a pot, pitted cherries, cherries with stones in, sugar and so on until the pot is full. Every 2 or 3 days mix the contents of the pot. use 4 kg sugar in all.
Strain through a seive or a jelly bag but do not press the pulp through.
Put the pitted cherries in jars.
Boil the water and 1 kilo of sugar. Allow to cool. **
Throw away the cherries with pips in.
Mix the cool liquid with 1 ltr of 96% proof Polish Spirit. Warning this spirit is very very strong and dangerous to drink undiluted.
Fill up the jars with the liquid and store for at least a week, a month or even a year.
Filter through filter papers before drinking.
I came across this recipe in Gdansk in Poland when I stayed with a Polish family. It made a splendid winter warmer. Unfortunately Polish Spirit in the UK is very expensive and not usually available in 96% proof. It cost £1.50 a litre in 1984. In the UK today a litre would be around £30.
As an alternative to the Polish Spirit consider using vodka or gin and mixing the 1 kilo of the sugar with 2 litres of 40% proof liquour. Omit the water in ** above. Although not the same as using Polish Spirit it still makes a good powerful drink for winter nights.
ould do and you will find there is no comparison between this and the ready made stuff.