George Washington, Brandy and the High Price of Cherries

It seemed like a perfect opportunity for us to do a bit of Gonzo journalism while also sampling an unusual brandy-based cordial with a fun name.

Published On: February 17, 2024

With President’s Day approaching, the Drink Wisconsinbly Week in Review Research Team went deep in the P encyclopedia looking for a topic that was both Commander in Chief-y and Wisconsin-ish. After several hours, countless deep sighs, and one particularly nasty paper cut, we finally uncovered a worthy factoid.

Did you know that George Washington was keen on a brandy-based drink called Cherry Bounce? It’s true! He was known to fill his canteens with it when he was in the field.

There was even a modified recipe for it available online. It seemed like a perfect opportunity for us to do a bit of Gonzo journalism while also sampling an unusual brandy-based cordial with a fun name. Then we saw the first line of the ingredient list:

“10 to 11 pounds fresh sour cherries”

We cannot tell a lie; that’s just too damn many cherries to buy. Not sure what they cost when the Father of our Country was traipsing around Bunker Hill, but they’re like $7.99 a pound now. You don’t need your face on money to understand that adds up to a hefty sum.

Since we’d fully committed to this George Washington bit by this point, we decided we could pivot and share a favorite recipe for Brandied Cherries, which includes more modest portions. So here it is:

Ingredients
1 cup Drink Wisconsinbly Brandy
1 pound fresh cherries, pitted
1 cup white sugar
3/4 cup water
1 star anise pod (optional)

Directions
Heat sugar, water, and star anise in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, until sugar has dissolved, stirring occasionally, about 2 to 3 minutes. Allow to cool for 10 minutes, and then stir in brandy.
Pack cherries into jars; pour syrup over the cherries until they are submerged. Cover and put jars into the refrigerator for at least 24 hours before using. Keep refrigerated.

One pound of out-of-season cherries may still be too much of a cash outlay to celebrate Presidents’ Day for some. If that’s the case, we suggest honoring George Washington by playing a sensible, budget-friendly game of Quarters.