20Dec/084
Review: Griottines Brandied Cherries
Brandied cherries are essential for a proper Casino, but finding them is surprisingly difficult.
The normal variety I use are quite large and though they taste great, they can get mushy, which is hardly the way you want to cap off a quality cocktail. Griottines are smaller, and quite tart. Macerated in Kirsch liqueuer, these wild Morello cherries are different than other brandied cherries and -- of course -- miles away from cloyingly sweet Maraschino cherries. Keep the sourness in mind if you use them in cocktails, but I found them quite delightful in the aforementioned cocktail and as a garnish to a Kir Royale.
A- / $25 per 11.8 oz. jar / griottines.com (also available at Epicure Pantry)
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December 22nd, 2008 - 10:52
Oh, god, I have nightmares about these things… I used to work at a gourmet foods store, and we would have these on sample. After the cherries were gone, we would take the syrup and mix it with sierra mist while we closed the store. *shudder*
December 22nd, 2008 - 23:46
Found another brand of “brandied cherries” : Brickstone Fine Foods “Brandied Sweet Cherries” (made in Canada, website is http://www.printempsgourmet.com). Haven’t tried them yet, though I bought a bottle at $15 for 400g. A bit dubious about the alcohol listing – it says > 2% alcohol.
Meanwhile, I’ve had no luck sourcing the Griottines Brandied Cherries, but I did manage to track down a litre of the Griottines preserved in Kirsch.
They are ***extremely alcoholic*** in taste. Potent little devils. Would be good in sangria as well as in my staples, the Manhattan and the Aviation (with Creme de violette).
Posted a photo of both:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/coffeegeek/3130185066/
December 23rd, 2008 - 08:11
The brand I’ve been using is a house brand from a local upscale supermarket. They are also pretty potent, but not very sweet, which I liked a lot about the Griottines. As for sourcing the Griottines, they are sold on the company’s website and can be purchased direct.
January 16th, 2010 - 16:31
Love the Griotines cherries from France