Liquori Casalinghi (Cherry Liqueur) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs ripe flavorful cherries
1 cup sugar, less 2 tablespoons sugar
1/3 cup water, plus
1 tablespoon water
1 3/4 cups grain alcohol or 1 3/4 cups vodka

Preparation

You will need to crush the cherries along with their pits. I found it was easiest to use a heavy duty extra large zip lock, adding a handful of cherries at a time, and smash each cherry with a hammer. Be sure to crust the pit well. Push the pulp to the bottom of the bag and add the next handful.
Leave covered in a dark place for 24 hours.
After 24 hours, boil the water and add the sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat.
Put cherry mixture in a fine muslin bag, or use a fine sieve, and squeeze the juice into a bowl.
Add the cherry juice to the sugar syrup mixture and set aside to cool.
Add alcohol to the cooled cherry syrup.
Pour into a jar with a tight fitting lid and place in a cool dark place for one week.
After one week, filter into a cool looking bottle, seal, and age it for at least six months before you pop the top.