make your own christmas booze!!

kateandpete

I am planning to use some of my bumper blackberry harvest to make some xmas tipples - blackberry gin, vodka or brandy. Seems like following a sloe gin recipe with substitutions is probably the way to go.

Question is what to make it in? Do I need an airlock or will a sealed glass bottle/jar do? I know alcohol evaporates and that low %s will turn to vinegar but I always thought stronger stuff stayed OK exposed to air? I'm really keen to do this as cheaply as possible and have no specialist kit.

Thanks as ever,
Kate

SmlSave

I've made mine in a lemonade bottle, water bottle and glass jar so far

I fill the container with fruit, some sugar and then the spirt. As long as the fruit is totally covered with the spirt then there's no problem.

Mazzarati2000

I tend to go for glass containers to minimise the chance of the plastic tinting the taste. (Not sure if there is any solid basis to my belief that it could tint the taste, but I don't like the thought).

hannahO_2

I've seen someone use a pin-pricked condom as a substitute for an airlock.

morganlefay

I made some damson gin but I used a 1.5litre jar - like a Kilner one but much cheaper in my local shop, and now I find it leaks when I shake it up, and it shouldn't as it has a rubber seal, so I've wrapped clingfilm round the top and hope that's OK - at least its not leaking any more ! Does anyone know if they have to be airtight ?

Pink.

morganlefay wrote: »

I made some damson gin but I used a 1.5litre jar - like a Kilner one but much cheaper in my local shop, and now I find it leaks when I shake it up, and it shouldn't as it has a rubber seal, so I've wrapped clingfilm round the top and hope that's OK - at least its not leaking any more ! Does anyone know if they have to be airtight ?

Hi morganlefay,

No they don't have to be airtight, provided the fruit is covered with alcohol. Like you I use kilner-type jars that leak...rather than shake it up I just use a long spoon to give it a good stir every couple of days until the sugar has disolved, then after a couple of months I strain it into bottles.

Pink

Westywoodpecker

I made four bottles of damson gin last year for Christmas :j

Come Christmas when we tried it I hated it! :mad: It tastes of cherries which I hate, so beware if you too don't like cherries!

kateandpete

Thanks guys. I have some Ikea kilner type jars I'm going to have a go at brandy, vodka and gin in. I ended up collecting so many I'm now going to collect some homebrewing kit from a kind freegler and have a go at wine too! Hic:beer:
Found a load of sloes too. Even if we don't like it I shouldn't be short of boozy hm gifts this year!

Thanks to all,
Kate

ANNEGEDDES

Hiya good luck i have mad esome the passed few years and love it! i made bb vodka for a friends wedding favours! i just used to collect old pop bottles and large fruit juice jacks wash the put it all in, aggitate everynow and again leave for a few months then filter through old tights or muslin into posh bottles (or ones i had saved from recycle box!)

enjoy x

LameWolf

Hi

The Blackberry Vodka I do every year works thusly:

About 1 lb and 10 oz blackberries
20 oz sugar
A 70 cl bottle of vodka (any old cheapie will do)

Put the berries in a glass bowl, cover with punctured clingfilm and microwave on Medium for 4 or 5 mins to release the juices.

Stir in the sugar, re-cover and cook on High for 3 to 5 mins, or til just boiling, stirring after each minute to dissolve the sugar.

Cool the syrup, stir in the vodka and mix well.

Bung the whole lot into a glass container - kilner type jar is ideal. I tend to use a demijohn with a solid bung in the top, just because that's what I have available.

Put in a cool dark place for at least 1 month, stirring occasionally to blend the flavours.

Strain, keep the berries (I bung 'em in the freezer) to make merry apple & blackberry crumble, and put the liqueur into a nice, preferably coloured, bottle.

An airtight kilner isn't essential, just stir rather than shake, to stop it leaking everywhere.;)

HTH