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How To Make Damson Brandy Liqueur Recipe

The wild fruit trees that grace the Kent landscape in which we live are laden with fruit galore this year and now is the time to harvest some of Mother Nature's bounty and make all sorts of fare to grace our tables both now and into the coming seasons. In this Badger Bushcraft Blog article we will be making damson brandy liqueur.

I was delighted to receive a wonderful bag of the plumpest, juiciest and sweetest damsons (Prunus domestica susp. Insititia) that grow both in gardens and the wild hedgerows that surround our peaceful village. So I must take this opportunity to my lovely and thoughtful friend Caroline for her kind gift.

Last years “Egerton New Years Day Village Walk” was exceptionally good fun and there were several hip flasks doing the rounds with home made liqueurs aplenty all of which were stunning. With this years walk in mind I have decided to make some damson brandy liqueur which I intend to filter through muslin and then use the fruit to make some Hunter’s Chocolate which will also feature on our Badger Bushcraft Blog later in the year.

damson_brandy_1

To make damson brandy liqueur you will need:-

  • Damsons
  • Caster Sugar
  • Brandy
  • A Wide Necked Bottle or Jar

Firstly I washed and drained the damsons in a colander removing any leaves and foreign bodies.

damson_brandy_2

I next carefully cut the damsons in half with a sharp paring knife and removed the stone with a twist of the two halves. I prefer the flavour of fruit spirits and liqueurs without the stones, to my palate the almond flavour of the stone can often taint the beautiful flavours of the fruit and this will also save some time when making the Hunter’s Chocolate later in the year.

damson_brandy_3

I placed the cut fruit into a clean and sterile Kilner jar until it was one third full.

damson_brandy_4

Onto the cut damsons I then poured approximately 200g of caster sugar, the fine grains of which soon dissolve with little shaking. Always remember more sugar can be added to add sweetness and viscosity at a later date.

damson_brandy_5

I next poured in the remnants of a bottle of brandy; whilst I could have filled the jar I am only looking for a small quantity of the damson brandy liqueur enough to fill a hip flask and it was not worth making a special journey to the shops as I can always add some more in the future.

damson_brandy_6

Shaken not stirred as a famous book and film character once said.

damson_brandy_7

The damson brandy liqueur will now sit in a dark cool cupboard and be shaken occasionally before being strained and decanted into a hip flask for the 2012 Egerton New Years Day Walk where it will be shared with our friends and compared against their hedgerow liqueurs.

This is a wondeful time of year to be outdoors and Mother Nature's bounty is all around for us to use and enjoy!

If this blog article has been of interest please also see "How To Make Damson Whisky"

Please remember with gathering all wild food "if in doubt leave it out". Don't ever take risks with the ID's of any form of wild foods

Comments

 
#13 Badger Bushcraft 2016-08-27 16:47
Hi Claire,

We tend to add sugar as the liqueur matures so we can get the sweetness right for us.

Not sure on how you could make it less sweet. Do let us know if you find the answer.

Best regards,

Phil and Co.
 
 
#12 Claire 2016-08-26 20:05
Hi,

Stumbled across this post!!
I made some Damson Brandy last year - it has been tucked away at the back of the cupboard.
I've just take it out and tried some - it is way to sweet - any tips for making it less sweet?
 
 
#11 G.Curran 2016-06-22 22:30
take a kilner jar of any size half to threequarters filled with de-stoned damsons, add two or three teaspoons to desert spoons of sugar to taste, pour over this to fill the kilner jar with either Brandy or Gin, leave in a warm-ish place for 10-12 weeks shaking gently once a week, Take a second similar sized kilner jar and half fill with de-stoned damsons (ergo pick plenty) add smaller amount of sugar and cover with the liqueur from the first Damson Brandy or Gin, top up with fresh brandy/gin if required, leave for a further 6-8 weeks if at all possible, this can be used to marianade the Xmas pud after its steamed or cooked but mainly after a really good meal with a friend also on a dry biscuit with semi-dried fruit with a good cheese manchago
 
 
#10 G.Curran 2016-06-22 22:21
take a clean sterlire kilner jar, half to three quarters fill with semi-frozen de-stoned damsons (important), also put in 2 to 3 desert spoons of caster sugar, pour cheapest Brandy of Gin over these to fill the kilner jar, leave aside for 10-12 weeks, take a second kilner jar at 10-12 weeks and half fill with frozen de-stones damsons fruit, pour the first lot of damson liqueur over the second batch of damsons, top off with more Brandy or gin if required, put to one side for a further 6-8 weeks if at all possible, drink in small glasses with fruit and a really good cheese to round of a memorable meal with a friend to three.
 
 
#9 Keith 2014-10-16 15:31
Would love to know what the Hunters Chocolate recipee is!, I'm keen to find out how you use the soaked Damson fruit...

Keith
 
 
#8 Phil Brown 2013-11-28 17:00
Hi Lou,

Sounds wonderful - do let me know how you get on!!

If you fancy writing an article about it I'd be delighted to publish it here for you!

All the best,

Phil.
 
 
#7 Lou 2013-11-28 16:26
This recipe sounds perfect - I am making chocolates for xmas presents and wondered whether you thought some damson liquer inside dark chocolate moulds would work.
 
 
#6 Phil Brown 2013-10-12 23:10
Hi Dan,

It was around 9-10 weeks and it was amazing!

Your use with on the duck breats sounds wonderful!

Do let us know how you get on.

All the best,

Phil.
 
 
#5 Dan 2013-10-12 18:47
Hi Phil,
How long do you leave the damson brandy to stand, I will be using mine for cooking ( juicy duck breast ).
regards and best wishes.
Dan.
 
 
#4 Phil Brown 2013-10-09 19:53
Hi Emma,

There was 200g of caster sugar to approx. 300g of stoned fruit.

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Phil Brown
Badger Bushcraft Instructor
 
 
#3 Emma 2013-10-09 19:08
How much weight of damsons for how much sugar?
 
 
#2 Phil Brown 2013-10-03 18:07
Hi Liz,

I think it is around the 2 pint size from memory.

I hope this help.

Best regards,

Phil Brown
Badger Bushcraft Instructor
 
 
#1 Liz Hall 2013-10-03 14:57
How big is the Kilner jar, please?
 

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