Blueberry liqueur

Today I strained the rest of the blueberry liqueur with 2 + cups of blueberry juice/vodka mixture.

I added 1/2 + cup of simple syrup, it came out so beautiful, very clear and the taste is so clean and not too sweet.

This years liqueurs are coming out more beautiful than ever.

Note: not sure if they are better due to better quality products or if I am just better at doing it. But the quality this year is amazing.

Raspberry Liqueur 2011

Today I was able to get 2 cups of yellow raspberry juice with vodka and 4 cups of red raspberry juice with vodka, added simple syrup to each, I am finding that 1/2 cup simple syrup to 2 cups of juice is just about perfect, so I added 1 cup to the 4 cups of raspberry/Vodka infusion.

I have to say this was the most beautiful, and fresh tasting infusion I have made to date. I don't know if the berries were riper than normal, or what, but it is amazing.

I have also found that by letting the juice settle for a day or so and then I pour off the clear into a measuring cup and strain that through the coffee filters, I only have to do that once.

Then I take whats left and strain usually through either cheese cloth or paper towels as there is still a lot of residue. I will let it settle a couple of times and the straining process is so much easier.

Next up: Blueberry Liqueur

Tomato Vodka (Alton Brown Recipe)

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ripe tomatoes
• 1 (750 ml) bottle 80 proof vodka

Directions:

• Cut each of the tomatoes into 8 pieces and put them into a large glass jar.
• Add the vodka, stir to combine, and cover.
• Put in a cool, dark place for at least 5 days and up to 7 days, stirring every day.
• After 7 days, strain through a fine mesh strainer and discard the solids.
• To store, pour tomato vodka back into its original bottle, and keep in a cool, dark place.

Chocolate Liqueur

1 - 4 oz Godiva chocolate bar
2 cups vodka

Put bottle in dishwasher with lid on to melt chocolate, leave lid on until cooled so it doesn't lose any of the alcohol.

cool

add 1 vanilla bean, split and cut in half

add 1 1/2 cup simple syrup (see recipe)

let sit for 2 weeks

add 1 cup good vodka

strain through strainer, not coffee filters, too thick. Shake before serving.

Nectarine Brandy

4 nectarines
2 cups brandy
Zest of 1 lemon
zest of 1 orange
1/2 tsp lemon juice

Steep 2 weeks
Strain

Steep 2 more weeks

Add 1/2 cup simple syrup + 1/2 cup brandy

Let sit for a couple weeks, it came out fabulous

Homemade Grand Marnier

1/3 cup dried bitter orange zest
2 cups brandy
1 vanilla bean

steep 2-3 weeks

strain, add 1 cups simple syrup

steep 4 more weeks

strain again and bottle

Not bad at all

Wild Blackberry Brandy

3 1/4 cup fresh blackberries
Zest of 1/2 lemon
1 tsp lemon juice
3 cups brandy

Let sit 3 weeks, strain

Add 2 cups brandy
Add 1 cup simple syrup (see recipe)

Came out fabulous