Festive Gin with Blackberries, Cinnamon and Bay
Flavoured with blackberries, cinnamon, bay leaves, cloves, allspice, and lightly sweetened, this gorgeous gin is quick and easy to make, delicious to drink in a range of different ways and makes an ideal festive gift.
Ingredients
For more information about this drink, please see http://www.daffodilkitchen.com/festive-gin-with-blackberries-cinnamon-and-bay/
See Recipe Notes for quantities based on making this with a 700ml bottle of gin
- 150g caster sugar
- 1000ml gin
- 300g blackberries
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 stick of cinnamon
- 4 large or 5 small cloves
- 2 allspice berries
Instructions
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Collect together your equipment (see Recipe Notes below) and ingredients.
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Weigh the sugar into a large glass jar with lid. I use 1.5 - 1.8 litre size for 1 litre of gin.
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Shake the jar well and then add the remaining ingredients.
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Muddle – I use a rolling pin to gently press the blackberries and spices and help release their flavours.
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Set aside in a cool dark place for 1 – 3 weeks, shaking from time to time.
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When you are ready to bottle the drinks, strain through a sieve, and let it sit, with the fruit in the sieve over a bowl or jug, for 30 minutes to drain properly.
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Line a second sieve with muslin or a very fine cloth and strain the blackberry gin again to make sure it is beautifully clear.
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Use a funnel to strain into sterilised bottles. (For information on sterilising bottles, please see Recipe Notes below.) Your gin is now ready.
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Seal and store in a darkened area for up to 3 months. Once opened it is best stored in the fridge.
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Do not throw the strained fruit away - it can be used to make a wonderful festive crumble or pie or even a small batch of blackberry jam. See here for a crumble idea.
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To serve:
- it works wonderfully in a gin and tonic,
- is ideal when making a Bramble cocktail,
- is scrumptious with champagne, Prosecco or Cava, and
- you can even serve it as is, over ice.
Recipe Notes
Equipment:
- kitchen scales
- glass container
- bottles and funnel
- sieve x 2
- jug x 2
Quantities for making this with a 700ml bottle of gin:
- 105g caster sugar
- 700ml gin
- 210g blackberries
- 2 small bay leaves
- 7/10 stick of cinnamon
- 4 small cloves
- 1 allspice berries
Sterilising bottles:
- Wash the bottles and lids in hot water and place on a baking tray. Place the jars and lids in a cold oven.
- Turn the oven on to Fan Oven 140°C/160°C/325°F/Gas 3.
- As soon as the oven reaches the required temperature, set a timer for 20 minutes.
- At 20 minutes, turn the oven off and leave the jars in the oven until they are luke warm. They are now ready to fill with the gin.