Flavoured gins and vodkas are all the rage now, but they can be expensive. The nicest ones I have ever tasted are home made blackberry gin and vodka. They bring back that taste of summer on a dark winter’s evening. They both make great Christmas presents also. I usually make rhubarb and ginger gin as well, and put a mixture of bottles of the infused alcohol in miniature bottles in my Christmas hampers, or put 3 little bottles in a little cloth bag with a draw string, as presents. Blackcurrants and sloes are also good fruit to use, but I have used other fruit as well. The ingredients make a small batch, but you can double or triple the quantity to make a larger batch. You could also use a bit more alcohol to bulk it out a bit in order to save money. It just won’t be as strong, but will still taste nice. Any cheap gin will do as it tastes no different when using a more expensive gin. I often use a supermarket own brand. This is so easy to do and the recipe is the same if you are using gin or vodka .
Ingredients
225g brambles (blackberries)
105g sugar
450 ml alcohol (gin or vodka). In the picture I have done a batch of both.
Method
- Put the black berries into a sterilised litre jar and scatter the sugar over them.
- Pour the alcohol over the top.
- Put the lid on the jar and shake it gently to dissolve some of the sugar.
- Store in a cool dark place and give the jar a swirl over the first few days to make sure that the sugar has totally dissolved.
- Over the next 3 weeks give the jar a swirl every now and then.
- Strain out the liquid into a jug (I use a sieve with muslin in), and then decant into bottles.
- The gin and vodka will last for a year, but the colour will slowly fade after 3 or 4 months.
- You can use the discarded fruit in a crumble, or in a trifle. I love them in a chocolate trifle.
Oh my goodness definitely giving this a go . I did Raspberry gin & used the strained fruit to make icecream it was lovely x
Mmmmmm I will be making some too, perfect gifts, might infuse some white rum for myself too 😊