Kirsch in Cheese Fondue

Our answer

Nigella's Cheese Fondue (from Nigella Express and on the Nigella website) is made with a combination of dry white wine and kirsch. Kirsch is a type of cherry eau de vie/clear brandy and is there to add a more complex flavour to the fondue, but is not completely essential so could be replaced with extra white wine if it is difficult to find.

Some people like to use an eau de vie called poire william in fondues. This is made with pears and would be a good alternative if it is available. You could use dry white vermouth as another alternative as this is a useful fortified wine to use in other dishes. However it is slightly dryer in taste than either the kirsch or the poire william so you may like to taste the fondue before serving and add a pinch of sugar it you feel it needs a little addded sweetness.