Plum Vodka Liqueur Recipes

Steps:

• Place plums in a glass carboy used for brewing. Pour in 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons rectified alcohol and 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons vodka. Seal and store in a cool, dark place for 5 weeks.
• Stir sugar into the carboy. Seal and store in a cool, dark place for 4 weeks.
• Strain liqueur through a sieve lined with muslin cloth. Pour liqueur into bottles, seal, and store in a cool, dark place for at least 3 months before using.

Steps:

• Wash the plums and remove any leaves and stalks. Pierce the plums all over with a fork or the tip of a sharp knife, then halve (leave the stones in). Tip into a large, sterilised, sealable jar (about 2 litres) with a wide neck - the plums should easily fit inside. Alternatively, divide between two smaller jars.
• Sprinkle over 150g sugar and add the gin (reserve the gin bottle if you're planning to decant the plum gin back into it later). Seal the lid and give the jar a good shake. Store in a cool, dark place for at least a month, giving it a shake every few days for the first week or so to mix everything together and dissolve the sugar.
• Check the flavour after a month and continue to infuse if you prefer a stronger flavour - it can be left for up to three months. Or, add another 50g sugar and leave for two or three weeks if you prefer it sweeter. When you're happy with the flavour, strain the gin through a fine mesh cloth or muslin into a clean bottle and discard the fruit (you can also eat the boozy plums alongside sponge cakes or ice cream). Store in a cool, dark place. Drink on its own, in a G&T or mix with lemon juice and sugar syrup for a plum gin sour.

Steps:

• Make sure the plum halves are clean and dry, then put them in a large sterilised glass jar. Add the sugar, brandy, cinnamon stick and star anise. Seal and gently rotate the jar to help dissolve the sugar.
• Continue to gently shake or rotate the jar (trying not to bash the fruit too much) every day for a week.
• Once the sugar has dissolved, leave it in a cool dark cupboard for another 2 weeks to infuse.
• Strain the mixture through a sieve lined with muslin, kitchen paper or coffee filter paper. Discard the plums, any fruit pulp and the spices, and pour the strained brandy into a bottle. Will keep for two months.