Ingredients
3 cups fresh or frozen sweet or tart cherries (1 pound), or a combination, or cherries and cranberries (we used Wyman's Dark Sweet & Red Tart cherries)
3 cinnamon sticks (each about 2 inches long)
1 bottle (750 milliliters) vodka, such as Smirnoff
1 1/2 to 2 1/2 cups Simple Syrup
1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
Preparation
Combine cherries, cinnamon sticks, and vodka in a large non-reactive jar. Cover and let stand at room temperature 2 to 3 days. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, reserving fruit. Stir in simple syrup and almond extract to taste.
Divide among clean jars. Add some of reserved fruit, if desired. (Remaining cherries can be refrigerated up to 1 month; send a small jar of extras along with the liqueur, or save them for yourself—they’re great in Manhattans!) Refrigerate up to 3 months.
