Topic: Blackberries!

[Trixiebelle]

Last year we had the 'usual' million llbs of blackberries in the avenues of our allotments. They're fiddly to pick and you MAY incur some brambling injuries ... but stick them with some sugar into a cheap bottle of vodka (OR 9) and leave them for 6 months.

HUBBA HUBBA  ;D

Better than the usual 'jam and pies'!

[Curryandchips]

I made some superb blackberry wine a couple of years ago, and have one bottle left, deciding whether to open it ...

[Trixiebelle]

OOPS ... sorry Curry, missed your reply. Did you open it then?  ;D

[Curryandchips]

Not yet, with it being my last bottle, I keep thinking there should be a big event as an excuse. Silly really isnt it?

[fluffygrue]

Heheh, sounds like a couple of our bottles that I'm forbidden to open because they're being left to age for a special occasion..! Which annoys me, because those are the only red wines we have left. :(

Melanie

[tin can]

What do you do with the fruit afterwards? Is it too strongly flavoured to eat? Or is it ok in pies etc?

[Curryandchips]

I have just returned mine to my compost pile, I didnt like the idea of eating it afterwards. I do that with all my fermenting 'musts'.

[tin can]

mmmm..that was my gut feeling. it just seems such a waste! Got damsons, dried apricots,blackberries,raspberries, blackcurrants waiting to be decantered (new to this!) so was just wondering..... :) any tips on how much sugar to add per pint? And is there a better type of sugar..granulated or caster...??these are in either vodka or gin. can I use a jelly strainer or will a sieve do ?

[derbex]

I'd do a taste test tin can :) I think you could use your fruit as it's not been fermented Curry's is different. Not sure what you're going to do with it though as it will be pretty alcoholic.

[Trixiebelle]

Tin Can: I ate the blackberries with cream  ;D

No idea about how much sugar per pint etc. I just bunged it in  ;D

[tin can]

I had thought of alcoholic fruit icecream! :D

[keef]

I made some blackberry vodka this year, 1lb of berries 8oz sugar to a 70cl bottle of vodka. Was OK, but no where near as nice as my slow gin - its also a real pain to filter off as you get a lot of sludge.

Have you tried sticking a load of opal fruits (all the same flavour) in a bottle of vodka, i've heard the green ones make a nice drink.