Damson gin...

[theironduke]

Got a tree laden with damsons so thought i'd have a go, any recommended recipes?

[stackmonkey]

Strangely, I spent 2 hours earlier today picking damsons..

I've put 2kg of damson and 500g of sugar into a demijon and filled with vodka.
If you have an empty 2l pop bottle, I use about 750g fruit and about 200g sugar, then top up with gin.

[madbadger]

Damson gin top tip:

Use Brandy.

[theironduke]

madbadger said:

Damson gin top tip:

Use Brandy.

interesting...

recipe?

Got loads of damsons so may have a go at both!

[kiteless]

We did a batch of damson gin last year, and - TBF - it wasn't that much different to sloe gin.

So this year it's some damson vodka.

[madbadger]

theironduke said:

interesting...

recipe?

Got loads of damsons so may have a go at both!

Enough for a demijohn? I don't really use a recipe, but make it the same as Sloe / damson / Blackberry / plum .... Gin / vodka / brandy ..... (you get the idea!)

Half fill a demijohn (or a 2 plastic bottle) with prefrozen fruit add sugar (to taste - I use about 100 / 200g per litre of spirit. Many people use more). Top up with spirit to about 80% full to give shaking space.

You'll need about 2-3l for a demijohn about 1l for a 2 bottle.

Shake as you can be bothered and then leave it for at least a year then strain the liqueur off the fruit. Bottle that then keep for ages! That's why you need to make a demijohn otherwise you will just drink it all.

Chin chin.

[theironduke]

Just doe a couple of bottles of damson gin and also used the damson i had left to have a got at some damson brandy with! Nom nom!

[Mobile Chicane]

I've just picked 1.5Kg of damsons, and have also been to Asda to secure the necessary cheap vodka (£8.72 a bottle).

I prefer vodka since I think it allows the flavour of the fruit to shine through, without being overpowered by the juniper in gin.

[BoRED S2upid]

Mum and dad do this its just Gin, fruit and the same weight of sugar to fruit I think. Leave to soak until Christmas and it keeps the chills away over the festive period.

[madbadger]

BoRED S2upid said:

Mum and dad do this its just Gin, fruit and the same weight of sugar to fruit I think. Leave to soak until Christmas and it keeps the chills away over the festive period.

Waaaay too sweet, surely?

+ The Christmas a year on is where it is at.

[Bill Carr]

I'm making damson wine - 800g sugar to 1kg fruit, and a gallon of water. And blackberry whisky - half the amount of sugar to fruit, topped up with el-cheapo whisky. Will leave it a year and see what happens.

I love fruit picking!