Homemade Guindado Recipe

Homemade Guindado: A Traditional Argentine Cherry Liqueur from the Estancia

Some of the best recipes are the ones that begin with a little exploration, a seasonal harvest and a story passed down through generations.

This year, with a little more time on our hands, we searched across Estancia Los Potreros and discovered an abundance of wild cherries growing throughout the property. Gathering the fruit by hand, we collected basket after basket of these small, tart cherries, knowing they were the perfect ingredient for something special.

Rather than simply enjoying them fresh, we decided to make Guindado, a traditional cherry liqueur that has been part of the Begg family’s recipe collection for generations.

Guindado is a beautifully simple preserve made with sour cherries, sugar and alcohol. Traditionally, it is prepared using brandy or another spirit, allowing the cherries to slowly release their flavour, colour and sweetness over time. At the estancia, we add our own local touch by using locally sourced gin, creating a version with a subtle botanical character that pairs beautifully with the cherries.

Making Guindado is a lesson in patience. The ingredients need time to come together, with the cherries slowly infusing the spirit over several months. The result is a rich, ruby-coloured liqueur with a balance of sweetness, fruitiness and warmth - a wonderful reminder of the landscape from which it came.

For generations, preserving seasonal produce has been an important part of rural life. Whether making jams, chutneys, pickles or liqueurs, these traditions allow families to enjoy the flavours of the land long after the harvest has passed. Each bottle tells a story of the season, the place and the people who made it.

Estancia Los Potreros Guindado Recipe

Ingredients

• 500ml gin

• 600g fresh cherries

• 4 tbsp caster sugar

Method

1. Stone the cherries and pack them into a large sterilised jar.

2. Add the sugar and stir gently to coat the cherries.

3. Pour in the gin and seal the jar tightly.

4. Shake well to combine the ingredients.

5. Store the jar in a cool, dark cupboard for approximately two months.

6. Shake the jar occasionally to help the flavours develop.

7. Once infused, strain the liquid through a sieve lined with two layers of cheesecloth, muslin or paper towels to remove the cherries.

8. Pour into a clean bottle and store until ready to enjoy.

Guindado is wonderful served on its own as an after-dinner drink, poured over ice, or used to add a special touch to cocktails and desserts.

For us, this bottle represents more than just a homemade liqueur. It captures a little piece of estancia life - the wild cherries growing among the hills, the traditions shared around the kitchen table and the joy of making something by hand from what the land provides.

Maga beginning the task of de-stoning the cherries.