Christmas Pudding Vodka & Other Festive Spirits

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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?

ekk, got me all excited, off to get ingredients asap but also off on hols v soon, back on 3rd sept if i make xmas pud voddy week commencing 5th sept would that give it long enough to do it's stuff?

also last question i promise. what vodka does everyone use, can you get away with asda smart price/tesco own cheapo stuff or does it have to be something decent a la absolute etc? i'm guesing that if you are flavouring and decanting that you can use cheapo shite???

gawd yes cheapo shite

MMM, it smells like Christmas whenever I open the jar.

Yes, I used the cheapo stuff, too.

Cheapo shite here too. As long as the bottle is an ok shape so I can re-use

Berry, that's what I did -- looked for the cheapo alchy with a decent bottle. I call it "using my resources wisely."

[thumbs up] to you guys, I like your style

I'm so glad I clicked on this topic, it's given me loads of different boozy gifts to get started on for christmas. I was going to make cassis and quince vodka anyway (recipes in River Cottage Fruit book) and rhubarb vodka (from Nigella's Domestic Goddess book) but I REALLY like the sound of the mars bar vodka! Can't wait!

please post rhubarb vodka recipe, brownie

Today's the day I get to strain my Christmas Pudding Vodka and give it a taste. I was going to strain it today but I have a very clingly (possibly unwell?) 21-month old who's become an appendage (one who had an abbreviated nap thanks to the DIY my shared-wall neighbors are doing) so will have to wait until tonight. Fingers crossed!

I made several different gins/vodkas last year and bought bottles for them here www.miniatureglassbottles.co.uk/index.html I can't praise this site enough - a lovely product, nice price and excellent and personal service. I made up my own labels but they will also send you a sheet of their own design or make up labels to your design if you want.

We were really strapped for cash and a miniature, with a cute shot glass from Ikea and a bag of homemade truffles or this fudge www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/68602/baileys-and-white-chocolate-fudge all nicely packaged up with bags etc from here www.cakescookiesandcraftsshop.co.uk/acatalog/Packaging-Accessories.html seemed to go down well.

Yes this is shameless boasting in the guise of helpfully giving out info ;-/

Scout - did it taste good? I finally made mine two days ago, so will probably leave it a few weeks before straining and bottling it. Made a small batch of citrus whisky too, so if it's good, we can keep some for when I'm able to drink again!!

the blackberry vodka looks absurd and even though I used a 2 litre jar to make it in, with 1 litre of vodka, it is leaking, as the berries have swollen up so much!! I'm hoping that once it's strained and bottled, I can use the jar for making sloe gin for next christmas too.

also, having looked at osme in our local cooking shop, I think we'll be getting some 200 ml flat padova bottles to bottle it up. 200 ml isn't such a bad quantity afterall - I thought it might be a wee bit frugal, but actually it looks plenty as an individual gift!

Just wondering how I sterilise bottles and things with no dishwasher, does anyone know?

Thank you all so much for this thread - I've got a recipe to dig out and share with you too, not yet tried it but this Christmas is gonna be a boozy one I feel!

Just wondering how I sterilise bottles and things with no dishwasher, does anyone know?

Thank you all so much for this thread - I've got a recipe to dig out and share with you too, not yet tried it but this Christmas is gonna be a boozy one I feel!

Padova bottles?

here Berry - you can bulk buy to get them cheaper. and don't be as dim as me and wonder why one is red :o I was staring at it for AGES before twigging

You pillock :o

These are quite cheap...

Amara - you can dry them out after washing in soapy water in a low temp oven.

Ah thank you! Just seen an idea for vodka soaked gummi bears!

Take a packet (or several lol) of gummi bears (or other similar Haribo sweets like lips etc) and leave soaked in vodka for 24 hours, stick them on cocktail sticks to avoid sticky hands dipping in and out of a bowl and enjoy your very adult sweeties ;)

I am waiting for my crab apples to ripen to make crab apple schnapps.

Have read this thread with much intrest, i really wanted a homemade christmas last year but all the would be recipients basically told me not to bother and just to buy something

I think i could make flavoured vodi work for a few though, it seems quite simple, im planning on following the mars bar one but with thorntons original toffee, do you think it would work?

Babydubs, that would work (I've used werthers in the past)

mmm crab apple schnapps - recipe please?

2 words.
Nigella Christmas.

Just adding blackberry whiskey to the list. This is my absolute favourite.

600g blackberries, 300g sugar (I used poncey muscavado but only because that's all that was in the cupboard) and 700ml whiskey. Put in a big jar and shake weekly. It's fabulous as a night cap.

I'll add the recipe for blackberry vodka. Not made it before but it sound nice.

1 litre of vodka, 600g blackberries and 300g sugar.

Put in a large jar and shake well. Shake every day for a month and then once a month for next two months.

Strain and bottle.

Eat the boozy blackberries with ice cream.