Christmas Pudding Vodka & Other Festive Spirits

[Scout19075]

Does anyone know how long Christmas Pudding Vodka and/or any other festive spirits recipes last? I only have one jar large enough to hold a bottle of vodka and each batch takes about two to four weeks to make. I don't fancy buying more jars as I don't think I'd use them during the year and my house is the size of a matchbox so no place to store them. However, I have about six bottles/gifts to make...if I start now will they have a decent shelf life after I give them?

[ToothlesstheDragon]

more importantly.. how do you make these? sound yummy.

[BoysAreLikeDogs]

ooh yes make now, then strain and bottle, they keep for years

Toothless, I'll find the linkie, hang on

[Kveta]

there's one here - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/christmas_08/625286-home-made-liqueurs-post-your-recipes-here

I'm making blackberry vodka too, getting the alcohol tomorrow in my weekly shope, then will have to go blackberrying later in the week!

not sure where to get nice bottles from though, as I only want to do 500 ml bottles for gifts. any ideas?

[BoysAreLikeDogs]

Bramshott's recipe, scroll down for it

it is utterly utterly fab

Also I can rec the citrus whiskey recipe I posted on that thread, it is EXTRAORDINARY

The cranberry gin recipe is one that, to my taste, needs making and a long rest to take the 'edge' off IYSWIM

[ToothlesstheDragon]

oooh thankyou :) shall make that for dh and i's xmas eve :)

[startail]

They will last forever as long as the recipe doesn't dilute the alcohol below the concentration of something like port that stores open. Sloe gin certainly lasts years.

[Scout19075]

This is the recipe I was thinking of using. I had found another as well but this one seems more full of Christmas, if you know what I mean. This recipe says six months, the other says one year, so I was all confused!

I'm going to use two 35cl bottles to make each recipe and while it's infusing I'm going to soak the labels off of the bottles and then decant the vodka back into them when it's time. I like the idea of the square bottles with festive labels and ribbon.

(I'm sad, aren't I?)

[BerryLellow]

Nigella's blackberry vodka went down a storm last year - and then you get to use the fruit in a VERY sozzled version of Eton Mess :)

[Kveta]

Bazza, where is that recipe? I could only find a non-nigella one. did you share the link with me already?

I found some lovely plain flasks here - flask which I plan to get, as am starting my blackberry vod with 2 litre bottles, and I'm not giving people litre bottles of alcohol for christmas!

[ChaosTrulyReigns]

That thread that Kveta linked to was life changing for me!

The Christmas pudding Vodka was amazing.

I have been dabbling, so far I have made curlywurly vodka, raspberry vodka, vanilla vodka.

On the go atm is marshmallow vodka and blueberry vodka.

I shall be trying the Eton Mess idea, thanks everso.

[BerryLellow]

Hello :o are we stalking each other today?!

It's in the 'kitchen' book. Can scan it and email or phoocopy and send if you like?

[BerryLellow]

:o phoocopy

[mogs0]

I bought loads of swing-top bottles a couple of years ago from jamjarshop.com They were on offer when I bought them so it might be worth hanging on for a little while if you are able to.

I made Mars bar vodka and blackberry gin last Christmas and both went down very well. My step-father thought the gin was cordial and was trying to drink it like squash!!

[Scout19075]

Mars Bar Vodka?! How do you make that?

[BoysAreLikeDogs]

for mars bar vodka you need an empty 1l spirit bottle and a 70cl bottle of vodka

decant smaller bottle into the larger one, chop up the mars bars so that they fit through the neck, then (this is the funny bit) pop on the lid and stick on the lower rack of dishwasher and put through a wash to semi-dissolve the mars bars and leave for a week or so, shake when you remember

strain through coffee paper (NB not muslin, or loads of the vodka gets soaked into the fabric ) and bottle in the 70 cl bottle. straining takes hours and hours and hours because it's so gloopy

eat the solids left in the coffee paper with ice cream (looks a bit shitty tbh but om nom nom)

[BerryLellow]

at mars bar vodka!

'looks a bit shitty tbh' :o :o

[Kveta]

mars bar vodka sounds intriguing! but we have no dishwasher, so will be refraining from any sweetie voddies for now!

Berry, a phoocopy would be grand :o or just message me the ingredients list - I'm away to the supermarket this afternoon to stock up on the spices I need, so a list would be excellent before then!

Citrus whisky sounds yummy too, may see about making that. although DH will probably wrestle the bottle of whisky from me then demand a hot toddy, which he thinks is the ultimate pre-bed treat.

god, I wish I was drinking atm...

[Scout19075]

Non-dishwasher recipe for Mars Bar Vodka. Thanks, Boys, for the tip on the coffee filter instead of a cloth! I shall use that for the Christmas Pud Vodka as well.

Does anyone know of a good brandy flavor recipe?

[BerryLellow]

How many mars bars to 70cl vodka?

[Kveta]

barry - the non-dishwasher recipe calls for 4. I imagine you can experiment a bit though?! :o

[BoysAreLikeDogs]

yep, 4 to 70 cl, the decanting into a bigger bottle for melting in dishwasher was confusing, sorry

[BerryLellow]

I'm easily confused.... Very excited about this recipe though

[Scout19075]

Just whipped up the Christmas Pudding Vodka -- must remember to stir/shake daily!

[Scout19075]

Just opened the Pudding Vodka to give it a stir -- it smells heavenly! (And this coming from someone who doesn't like Christmas Pudding and Mince Pies but I sure do love the smell of them.)

[BoysAreLikeDogs]