Anyone make fruit spirits.... Sloe Gin, Blackberry Whisky etc?

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

I heard 'Blackberry Whisky' mentioned about three times last week so have decided to make some. Have Kilner jar, blackberries, scotch, sugar and a River Cottage cheat sheet. Looks simple enough (famous last words). Any tips? And if I wanted to get a few of these going for next Christmas to give as gifts, any other good combinations?

They are v simple to do.

Currently having quince vodka from our Japanese quince tree - jab quinces all over with pin. Chuck in jar, put in random quantity of sugar, fill jar with vodka.

Shake every day for a week or until you forget. Ready in 1 month, add more sugar if needed.

Sloe gin is great but really needs 2 years - it's drinkable after about 3-4 months but the longer you leave it transforms into a completely different drink.

Store the bramble whisky out of direct light or the colour fades!

Don't add too much sugar. You can add more later if required.
If making more than one jar bung in some spices, something like a star anise or vanilla pod.
Label well.

last year I made Raspberry & Redcurant vodka and Josterberry Gin.

The colours are fantastic, and they are definitely giggle juice , don;t taste as strong as they are.

Rhubarb vodka looks very pretty. And if you strain and then leave in a bottle forgotten for a couple of years. The taste changes significantly. I did that with some bramble gin that had been ok but then turned fantastic,

Blackberry whisky is bloody gorgeous. Made it for the first time this year, though I make sloe gin every year.

Roughly - fill the bottle to about 1/3 with fruit, add sugar to about half way (with it filling the gaps in the fruit), and top up with the alcohol of your choice.

I make blackcurrant vodka every year, as there's only so many of the little purple buggers I can actually eat and its a good way of using the less large and ripe fruit. Stunning colour. I make it with only a little sugar, so it's not too sweet with lemonade.

I always do raspberry vodka after a fruit farm picking session.

Top tip - drink really cold and not on a school night.

Well it's off and running. The sugar hasn't dissolved properly yet but the instructions say to give it a bit of a shake every day. Already looks a nice colour. I might try raspberry or rhubarb vodka when it's soft fruit season. If these things take a long time, I suppose it's a good idea to get another one going a few months later?

At what point do you strain off the fruit? Six months' time? Do you keep the liquor in a separate bottle to keep maturing or put it back in the jar?

Hiya.

Keep shaking till the sugar is all dissolved. Then give it another turn every now and then if you remember. 6 months is about right for sloes. Less time for softer fruits as they'll go quite mushy (so a month or two).

When you strain them a top tip is to go through a sieve to get out the big bits of fruit (which you can then use to make a clafoutis or something) then through a coffee filter or two to get rid of finer sediment. Then back into washed jar or a bottle. Ready to drink or leave it a bit to mature.

Happy drinking

Once strained soft fruits go into the freezer ready to be used for Christmas cake.