That is until I just sat down, and unwinded a bit with this Cherry Brandy Alexander. Now I can’t NOT tell you about this cocktail. It’s just too damn good. So I made another, and now I’m going to spend a few minutes here to tell you what you should be doing this weekend. Read on.
Step 1. Make a to-do list and put this on it…
Go to Whole Foods and buy some organic cherries
They’re in season and they’re plentiful hear in Austin. Cherries are also one of those fruits you should buy organic - given the fact that we eat the skin and that skin has a likelihood of being high in pesticides.
Step 2. Get a bottle of brandy.
Don’t have one? Put that on your list too, because we’re going to infuse that sucker with those luscious red orbs of goodness from step 1.
Here’s how to do it.
Cherry-infused Brandy
(adapted from Matt Bites)
- 1 lb of pitted cherries (use a straw for the deed)
- 1/2 bottle of brandy (a tad more than 1 1/2 cups)
Directions:
Easy as pie. Add the cherries to a jar or storage vessel of your choice then pour in the brandy.
Tighten the lid, give it a few good shakes and let it sit in your fridge for a few days. I left mine in for a total of 6 days.
I also gave it a shake around the 3 day mark, just to keep the party going in there.
When the 6 days are up strain the infused liquor from the jar and you got your summer cocktail mixer. Boom!
You could make a cherry sidecar as done on Matt Bites. Or…you could be like me and try something a little different.
Think to yourself for a moment, what goes good with cherries?
Ice cream? yeah.
Chocolate? Um, hell yeah!
And then you’ll realize what you really should be making with this cherry brandy is a Cherry Brandy Alexander!
Cherry Brandy Alexander
(adapted from Food & Wine Cocktails 2006)
- 1.5 oz Cherry Brandy (as above)
- 1 oz Creme de Cacoa (white or dark, it’s all good)
- 1 oz Half & Half
- Nutmeg or Cinnamon
Directions:
Again, this is too easy. Simply add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker, and fill with ice.
Shake vigorously. You want it ice cold and super frothy.
Then strain into a glass and sprinkle some cinnamon or fresh grated nutmeg over top.
While you’re at it garnish with a fresh cherry.
I happened to have this fancy pants Brandy glass I bought at Austin’s City-wide garage sale a couple weeks ago for $2. So I used it because I thought it might be photogenic.
As Feist would say, this Brandy Alexander will get you into trouble. With the taste of those dark chocolate cherry candies you get for Valentine’s day, it goes down easy.
Happy 4th of July weekend everyone!
