subject: Abc Of Cherry Brandy [print this page] Brandy is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages available and is produced by distilling wine. Derived from the Dutch brandewign which means burnt wine, brandy generally contains 35 60% alcohol by volume and is usually taken as an after dinner drink. Brandies are aged in wooden casks, while some are simply coloured with caramel to imitate the effect of aging. Brandy can be produced from fermented fruits other than grapes, and these products are typically named eaux-de-vie. Fruit brandies are distilled from fruits other than grapes such as apples, peaches, apricots, plums, cherries, elderberries, raspberries and blackberries. Fruit brandy usually contains 40-45% alcohol by volume and is customarily drunk chilled or over ice.
Cherry brandy is one of the many types of fruit brandy and is a red, full bodied, sweet cherry flavoured liqueur made from the juice of dark red cherries. Cherry brandy is made by fermenting crushed cherries, along with the stone, in the usual way that normal grape brandy is produced. The distillate forms a brandy which is highly esteemed for its odour and flavour. Cherry brandy has a distinct flavour, due to the bitter principle extracted from the seed during fermentation. The seed of a cherry contains a particular bitter flavouring material, better known as amygdalin, which provides this bitter flavour. This bitter taste is delightful, and characteristic of the product. Cherry brandy can be aged and cared for just as other brandies are, and can be kept for as long as four years in wood before consumption.
Cherry brandy is produced in countries such as Switzerland, Eastern France and Southern Germany. Products that are sold without aging, appear as a water white product. Cherry brandy is used for its medicinal qualities with usually not more than a tablespoonful of it consumed at any one time. It is usually drunk neat and is traditionally served cold in a very small glass. In some countries it is taken as an aperitif, whereas in others, it is used as a digestive, usually served after dinner. It can also be used in food and is used in traditional German Black Forest cake, Swiss fondue and also in the filling of chocolates. Cherry brandy can also be used in cocktails such as Caf Au Kirsch and Cherries from Heaven.
There are several brands of cherry brandy the most popular include Bols, De Kuyper, Kirschwasser and Seagrams. De Kuyper cherry brandy is made using dark ripe cherries, which are macerated in pure neutral spirit, and then enhanced with spices such as cinnamon and cloves before being blended with fine brandy.
