Clever Cooking: Homemade Liqueurs
Specialty schnapps, liqueurs, and cordials are an elegant addition to many beverages and dessert dishes. They also make excellent gifts to hosts and hostesses or for holidays. But those of the highest quality may be expensive imports, and even if reasonably priced may be of limited availability in your area. Luckily, preparing your own liqueur, schnapps, or cordials for your own use or for gift giving is remarkably easy and inexpensive.
The equipment required is usually nothing more than a glass container that can be sealed tightly, a dark cupboard to keep the recipe in while steeping and aging, and a mesh strainer. Bottles for the final product can be bought relatively inexpensively; you can also reuse glass bottles you already have on hand.
The basic ingredients required are liquor (inexpensive, neutral vodka is a good choice), sugar, and one or more ingredients to add flavor. These ingredients are combined in a glass container which can be tightly closed. This is placed in a cool, dark place to steep for three or more weeks, being occasionally shaken or stirred. After steeping, the liquid is strained and can be bottled for use or gift giving. Some flavors benefit from a further aging of several weeks. A wide variety of ingredients can be used, including fresh or frozen fruit, spices and seasonings, coffee, or cocoa.
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