Greedy Gourmet and Lirim Gula: Amaretto Cherries and Lirim Gula: Bourbon Godfather

I originally saw this video somewhere - maybe Pinterest? - but apparently it originated on TikTok, and the drink looked right up my alley.  The author calls this an Old Fashioned, but with the amaretto, it's more of a Godfather, hence the name change here.  The amaretto cherries can definitely also be used as a topping for ice cream or pound cake if you're looking for ways to use them that don't involve alcohol.

Note: Yes, cherry pits contain cyanide, but it's only really a danger if the pit is cracked.  If you're pitting your cherries and you crack open a pit by accident, toss it.  Only use complete pits with no cracks.  If it really bothers you, just make the syrup without the pits.  I used the pits, and I'm still kicking.  For the simple syrup, I used some vanilla bean syrup I had around, but it's not absolutely necessary to go that far.

Amaretto Cherries

Adapted from Greedy Gourmet blog and Lirim Gula of Tasty UK

1 pound sweet cherries
1¼ cups water

2 cinnamon sticks
Peel of one orange, in large strips
¾ cup maple syrup
1 cup amaretto

Pit the cherries and retain the pits, except for any that are cracked or otherwise compromised. Place the cherries in a jar.

Cook the cherry pits in the water, adding the cinnamon stick, orange peel, and maple syrup, until syrupy.  Remove from the heat, strain the liquid, and then mix the syrup with the amaretto.  Pour the syrup over the cherries in the jar, then refrigerate for at least a week before using.

Bourbon Godfather
From Lirim Gula of Tasty UK

2 to 3 dashes chocolate bitters
¾ ounce simple syrup
3 ounces bourbon
1½ ounces amaretto

Toasted orange peel

2 to 3 Amaretto Cherries along with a spoonful of the syrup

Combine all ingredients in a glass with a couple of ice cubes.