Using brandied cherries

[1cup]

I made cherry brandy this year (got the cherries from a friend's tree) and am bottling it for Christmas gifts. But how can I use the cherries? Any ideas? Do you think they would work mixed into a mincemeat pie?

[thursday]

I had a fantastic cocktail on vacation a few months ago - an Aristocratic Manhattan made with Knob Creek bourbon, Sweet Vermouth, Angostura Bitters, and brandied cherries. The cherries made the whole drink...and I don't usually like hard liquor.

[buttertart]

They're great in a chocolate cake - Reine de Saba type with almonds especially. Also good as a garnish for darker poultry (duck, quail etc) and pork.

[Ernie Diamond]

You have what is essentially Cherries Jubilee (I think you can find it in the old Joy of Cooking). If I remember, they suggested serving the brandied cherries hot over ice cream. I think the brownie treatment would work well, too.

I don't eat enough mincemeat pie to say whether they would work in one or not but the batch that I just made with venison probably would favor the addition of some boozy, sour cherries.