What do Ronnie James Dio, 95% alc./vol. spirytus and cherry picking have in common? Wiśniówka - locally made sour cherry vodka that's my go to drink whenever we visit Kasia's family in Poland.
I have been offered Wiśniówka or another homemade fruit vodka (raspberry, blueberry, blackberry - you name it) so many times while in Poland that it feels like everyone there makes it themselves or has parents/aunts/uncles/grandmas and/or grandpas who just supply them with new bottles of this delicious drink. It makes perfect sense: a lot of Polish people grow fruits in their backyards so the main ingredient is already there. All you need to do is add some sugar and strong alcohol, put it aside for a few months and voila - your fruit vodka, or "nalewka", is there, ready to help you digest your "obiad" or warm you up on a cold day. It also makes a perfect gift - I mean who wouldn't like a bottle of delicious, homemade liquor?
My personal favourite is Kasia's sister's Wiśniówka. Let me share her super easy family recipe with you:
1 kg of sour cherries
0.5 l of rectified spirit
0.3 kg of sugar
You can adjust the quality of alcohol and sugar, depending on how strong and/or sweet you want your Wiśniówka to be but for me these proportions are great (strong, not overly sweet).
Pit sour cherries and put them in a big jar. Add sugar and leave it for about 5 days. Add alcohol and leave it again, for 3-4 months. Transfer the liquor to pre-washed, empty vodka bottles, you can use some gauze or paper towel to filter it or you can transfer it as it (then it will be a bit cloudy and have some texture to it). Most important: save the sour cherries! They are sooo good, especially with coffee or as a late night snack! And don't be fooled - you can absolutely get drunk on them so don't snack on them too much if you plan to drive that day (speaking from experience).