Kirschwasser

Kirschwasser (Ger., 'cherry-water') is a liqueur made from cherries, and highly esteemed in Germany. The cherries, gathered when quite ripe, and freed from their stalks, are pounded in a wooden vessel, but so that the stones are not broken. They are then left to ferment, and when fermentation has begun the mass is stirred two or three times a day. The stones are afterwards broken, and the kernels bruised and thrown in. By distillation kirschwasser is obtained.—For cherry-brandy, see BRANDY.