Life's a Bowl of Cherries

Before going to bed last night I picked through the cherries we had gathered yesterday, de-stalked them, and discarded any which were very badly damaged. Then I washed and rinsed them, and left them to dry.

Tonight when I got home from work, G was all aproned up.  Two large plastic bottles were sterilised and filled  with the very finest Stoli vodka.  Sugar was added, and the cherries were bruised to allow the juice to escape freely, before they were spooned into the bottles through a large funnel.

For the next week he will shake the bottles gently once a day, and then leave them in a cool dark cupboard for several months, turning them occasionally.  By Christmas the cherry vodka should be perfect, and can be decanted into little individual bottles as gifts for family and friends.

In another month or so we'll be out looking for sloes and brambles, for more delicious fruity alcoholic treats.