Blueberry Cordial
Apr. 8th, 2012 02:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cougars_catnip in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
omnomnom
I've been a brewer for several years and have all kinds of special equipment but it can be expensive to get into. If you have always wanted to try brewing, but aren't sure you want to invest all that money buying equipment for something you might not like doing, try making a few cordials and liqueurs first to see if you enjoy it. You don't need a lot of equipment, just a few simple ingredients, a big glass jug, a cool dark storage spot and LOTS of patience. You also want to keep meticulous notes and have a fanatical devotion to cleanliness.
Blueberry Cordial
750 ml. vodka or brandy
2 c. simple syrup
2 tbsp glycerine
Otptional : 1/2 tsp whole cloves and 1/2 tsp. whole corriander seeds
Thaw the berries and lightly crush them in a large glass jar. Place spices in a muslin tea bag. Add vodka or brandy and spices to the berries and cover. Place in a cool dark place for one week. Remove spices. Let berries steep one more week. Pour into a jelly bag and squeeze to get the most juice. Decant into a clean gallon jar and add simple syrup.
Let stand until clear. Decant being careful to get none of the sediment. Add glycerine. Bottle and age for at least 6 months.
****
Brewer's Notes :
Control amount of spice by adjusting steeping time from 2 days to 10 days. Vodka has a cool flavor and brandy is a warm flavor. Choose vodka for more pure fruit flavor as vodka has no flavor of it's own. This is lovely over shaved or crushed ice, ice cream or in ice tea. Beautiful color and the more clear it is the better.
A simple syrup is made by taking two cups of sugar and dissolving it in one cup of water. Heat until sugar is dissolved and the syrup is clear. This equals 2 c. simple syrup. Any type of sugar will do.
To decant is to siphon off the liquid without disturbing the sediment on the bottom. You want to only get the clear part.
no subject
on 2012-04-08 11:05 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2012-04-09 12:57 am (UTC)CC