Damson Gin

[slinky.kate]

found a recipe for damson gin and decided to make some for xmas pressies,do you know any recipes for any others and also for fruit,was in ikea yesterday and got loads of bottles and jars,

[Mamyalynne]

My Daughter made us all some Cranberry Vodka last Christmas,it was lovely and am sure there are plenty of easy recipes on Google.

[slinky.kate]

do you know when I can buy damsons in the supermarket mamya

[Mamyalynne]

I don't Kate,sorry - do most shopping online now.

[ethandron]

Ooh Kate, did you read my mind??
I've just unearthed the big plastic sweetie jar I saved, and measured how much it takes...4 litres...as I'm keen to have a go at making damson liqueur.
What's the recipe you have, I've not got as far as trying to find one yet.
Apparently damsons are ripe in September so I imagine it won't be long till they're in the shops.

[mccfluff]

probably september/october for damsons, my mum makes sloe gin, i'm told its very nice

[Buenchico]

The BBC Good Food website suggests that next month might be the best time to look out for damsons:
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/glossary/damson

[slinky.kate]

ethandron=DAMSON GIN
450 g damsons
225g granulated sugar
70cl. bottle of cheap gin
you wilalso need -1 litre kilner jar
wash and prick each damson a few times and put in kilner jar,add sugar,pour in gin.seal ja and give it a good shake then leave in a cool dark place and leave for 3-4 months shaking jar daily l sugar dissolves.once ready strain through muslim cloth and pour into a bottle or decanter ,label.

[ethandron]

Thank you Kate, will definitely be having a go :)

[woofgang]

home made cherry brandy is good and easy. you just fill a jar around 3/4 with cherries, fresh or frozen, then add sugar to about almost the top, then pour in brandy. Close it up and give it a good shake everyday for about a month. the sugar will dissolve and then you keep topping up with brandy till all the sugar is dissolved. Keep it in a cool dark place, not the fridge for about six months then have a tiny taste. At this point you may want to add more sugar. Put it away again for six months more and its done. Strain out the cherries and bottle them separately with some of the brandy. store in a clean jar in the fridge, they are fabbo in desserts. Bottle the brandy in clean bottles. If there is sediment then you can pass the brandy through a coffee filter to make it clear. At this point taste again. If you need to sweeten further then do it with stock syrup (sugar dissolved in water.) Try not to neck it all at once.

[237SJ]

I might give this a bash if I get the chance to find some wild blackberries http://www.food.com/recipe/blackberry-liqueur-91061

[ladyalex]

We've made some raspberry vodka this year..same recipe as for thedamson gin except using 450g rasps 225g sugar and 70cl vodka instead of gin.
The lot we made last year was delicious and I have high hopes for this year's lot.
It does make very acceptable Christmas gifts ....if you can bear to give it away.

[ubasses]

I make sloe gin every year, you can do vodka as well, best bit is you just have to get out and pick the sloes which makes the fruit free, same with blackberry vodka which I have not tried yet.

[Prudie]

I also make sloe gin every year and last year did blackberry brandy too. That's delicious and just half sugar to weight of blackberries, pour over the brandy, shake now and again and wait...if you can

[rockyracoon]

Get some Werthers Originals, stick them in a bottle of vodka and shake til dissolved. Toffee vodka.

[slinky.kate]

thank you all for the recipes,will get my son to bring in a bottle of vodka/gin from his work