Cherry rum - trying to decide which way to go

[Steve Broady]

A grind if mine loves the black cherry rum from Cruzan. I tried it, and it’s too weak and too sweet for my taste. But it did get me thinking. So when I picked up a bag of cherries on discount, I figured why but give it a try?

I had about 850 ml of 74% ABV white rum, to which I added a quantity (I didn’t measure, but it worked out to about 300 ml extra volume) of whole sweet cherries. A day later, and it looks like this:

So far, that’s all I’ve done. I’m thinking now about what to do next. Do I let it sit like this for a while, strain and discard the cherries, then add sugar and water? Should I leave them in and add sugar and water? What are the pros and cons either way? Or should I try straining out the cherries, then mascerating them in sugar and using the syrup to sweeten the final product?

I’m interested in hearing ideas about different approaches, especially the reasons behind them.

[Saltbush Bill]

A suggestion for next time.....buy a cherry pit/ stone remover.
Get rid of the stones then fill a jar almost full of the cherry's.
Fill to the top with Rum.......leave six months or more.
Eat the cherry's on icecream and dribble some of the juice on as well.
Remaining Rummy cherry spirit should be good......I do 6 or 7 jars using UJ white dog heart of hearts or neutral every year around Xmas time.

Smooth and tastes like cherry's.
I've done the same thing or similar with fresh slices of peach and a little sugar.

[NZChris]

I guesstimate the amount of water and sugar in the berries using a refractometer and/or Google.

After a few weeks, the alcohol, water and sugar in the fruit and liquid will have reached equilibrium. Anything you have to use for measuring the contents is now useless, so you have to calculate and estimate abv & sugar.

I rack off the liquor and use the fruit in desserts, see the Panty Dropper thread for ideas.

What you do next is dependent on you and your guests likes.
I've been using less and less sugar and have arrived at 15g/100ml as being acceptable for most people.
ABVs between 27 & 35% are quite nice, over 40% often spoiling the fruit flavors but liked by heroes who want to feel the burn.

BTW, I prick the fruit.