Cherry Brandy

Ingredients

• equal quantities morello cherries
• equal quantities common black cherries
• 1 gallon water
• brandy
• 1 pound brown sugar

Instructions

1. Fill a cask with equal quantities of morello and common black cherries. Pour one gallon of boiling water over the cherries (for a ten gallon cask). After two or three hours, fill the cask completely with brandy.
2. Let stand for one week, then draw off all the liquid. Put another gallon of boiling water into the cask with the cherries, and fill it again with brandy.
3. After another week, draw off all the liquid. Empty the cask of the cherries.
4. Combine the brandy with water to reduce the strength as desired. For each gallon of the brandy-and-water mixture, dissolve one pound of brown sugar. If the brandy is very strong, add enough water to fill the cask completely.