Homemade Liqueur

We have a chokecherry tree in our yard that I love! It makes the best jelly EVER! Some years the tree is so full that I have to find new ways to utilize them.  This is one of the recipes I found, however, I don't remember where I found it. You can also use any fresh fruit that you have, not just chokecherries. I haven't tried other fruits, but I'm sure it would be delicious!

Cherry Liqueur
Chokecherries
Vodka (It doesn't have to be the most expensive, but you do want a high quality)
Sugar

Carefully wash the fruit, trying not to break the berries. Place the fruit in a jar and cover the fruit with vodka. You will need to leave about an inch of headspace because the berries will swell as they absorb the liquid. Place a lid on the jar and leave on the counter for several days until the berries have absorbed all the liquid they can.

Pour off the liquid into another jar and label "Batch 1".

Next, you will layer the berries with sugar, making sure that all the berries are coated. The amount of sugar is up to you. I don't like a very sweet liqueur, so I tend to use as little as possible.
Place a lid on the jar and leave on the counter until the berries have released all the liquid possible.

Pour off the liquid into another jar and label "Batch 2".

Repeat the above layer (using more sugar) as many times as necessary until the berries have given up all their juice. You will know when this has happened because the berries will be shriveled up and you will not have very much juice. Batch 1 will be your strongest alcohol content, followed by Batch 2, etc. The last batch will be the sweetest.

This is where the fun and your imagination begin. Mix together Batch 1 and Batch 2. Now, begin adding from the other Batches until you reach the taste you are happy with. That's it!

I have seen recipes for a similar liqueur using peaches and watermelon. You could probably use this for any fruit... maybe cantaloupe! Let me know which you tried and how it turned out.