Period seasonal booze

[Penners]

Blackberry hybrid vodka

Coincidentally, Ivor, Mrs P has just been making a blackberry hybrid vodka, too, although as a secondary rather than primary target. We have something of a glut of grapes in our conservatory this year, so she decided to make some blackberry and grape jelly (ie: jam). This proved to be something of a challenge - two goes at getting the stuff to set failed dismally, so Plan B was hastily conceived. She added some of the failed jelly (still liquid) to vodka and produced a very acceptable Blackberry/Grape Hooch!

I'm afraid I can't give you any recipe measurements whatsoever, because the quantity of failed jelly added to the vodka was established entirely on the basis of taste. Fortunately she arrived at the optimum mixture before the tasting process got completely out of control!

 

[Zebra]

I can't really imagine Napoleon visiting Aldi.

I don't think I ever had imagined it before you mentioned it, but now I can't get it out of my mind.... On his horse, basket in hand, sauntering down the pastry aisle...

 

[a twig]

We are taking in our crop of grapes next weekend - having a crack at some wine.

Vine is a completely unknown quantity, so aiming for two demijohns and see how it goes! Fingers crossed it's a dry variety!

In true over-engineered style, I am busily constructing a fruitpress made from a 10T bottle jack - no juice will be wasted!

Our apple tree has turned out to be a crab apple tree, so the chainsaw will be out this winter, and a Bramley tree going in instead for lots of lovely dry cider!

 

[88v8]

Vine is a completely unknown quantity, so aiming for two demijohns and see how it goes! Fingers crossed it's a dry variety!

Our apple tree has turned out to be a crab apple tree, so the chainsaw will be out this winter, and a Bramley tree going in instead for lots of lovely dry cider!

You may know, Bramley is a triploid so it needs two pollinators.
http://www.orangepippintrees.co.uk/articles/how-to-pollinate-bramley-apple-trees
Obviously, they all need to be in flower simultaneously.

Dry wine, there is such a thing as too dry. Control the specific gravity and stop the ferment when it gets where you want, otherwise you risk producing something that is fit only for cooking.
In the past we, that is to say my wife, had considerable success with fruit wine, but never grape. Dry to the point of arrrgh.

Your press will need to be sterilised. For two demijohns-worth, this might be easier.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WALKER-DESMOND-5-litre-fruit-wine-or-cidar-press-Boots-/351170903565?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Food_SM&hash=item51c36abe0d

Cider pressing is another matter, a step-up in size.
http://www.rivercottage.net/forum/ask/processing-and-other-crafts/bramley-apples-for-cider/

Ivor

 

[Penners]

stop the ferment when it gets where you want, otherwise you risk producing something that is fit only for cooking.

I'll drink to that.

 

[mattice]

wow - that's the weekend sorted.

The Apple crop has been affected by my pruning, so a friend has donated 16 pounds of honey. Mead here we come. Never made it but looks easy enough.

We have damsons coming out of our ears so we went for chutney this year, (still a litre of gin left from last year), Delia's recipe, great with sausages and cheese on toast!

The left over cider I've turned into cider vinegar.... yummy.

 

[a twig]

Rough idea I'm going for with my press:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-feks_uh5-Nw/T914ATH8PYI/AAAAAAAAARI/TbQZzrPogt4/s1600/Cider+Press+3.jpg

So the bits that are in contact with the fruit will be disposable - no cleaning issues hopefully. I have some 4" by 4" posts going spare so they should do for the frame. I thought that the fermentation process would kill off any nasties - no?

There are a lot of apple trees within a 1 mile radius so I'm not too worried on the pollination front - but I'm open to alternative suggestions!

Good point, this year is very much an experimentation - I won't be upset if the whole lot gets used for slug traps!

That Walker Desmond jobby is rather natty though - might keep an eye on it - could always upgrade it for more POWERRRR... :twisted: