I first drank this brandy last Christmas at a neighbour's house. We had all picked the blackberries together earlier in the year, and while we'd scoffed ours, they had cunningly soaked theirs in brandy ready for some Christmas cheer.
Obviously as soon as we realised there were alcohol-sodden berries available we all invited ourselves round. Prosecco with the berries at the bottom of the glass was offered and later we had nips of the brandy too - if only all neighbours were so welcoming!
So if there are still some berries round your way, pick them quick, and forget about crumble, compote and the kids. Stick them in some brandy and congratulate yourself on this early investment in a Merry Christmas!
Blackberry Brandy
Fill a glass bottle two thirds full of blackberries (do this on the scales so you can see how much the fruit weighs).
Fill the bottle with as much brandy as you can/want. Cheap brandy is fine, although I've been told Sainsbury's own is better than what the corner shop sells, that Napolean stuff.
Add 3oz (85g) of sugar to every 1lb (450g) of fruit. Give it the occasional shake.
Then wait. Ideally till Christmas. If not, have a very merry October!
Sounds like a brilliant idea. Will hope to be picking this weekend. Wonder if they would work with vodka too?
ReplyDeleteAnother neighbour (you don't have to be an alcoholic to live here, but it helps!) has made a brandy/vodka mix with blackberries, from a proper recipe, rather than a random whim. Haven't tried it yet though, not 100% sure...
DeleteMmm looks gorgeous, we usually make sloe gin but if I can find enough blackberries (so few these year here) then I may just make this instead or maybe as well as!!!
ReplyDeleteReally? We've had loads here (south east london) after a few really rubbish years.
DeleteNot so sunny Cornwall this year more wet and damp!!! Neither me or the berries liked it!!!
Deletewow, this is a very good brandy. Great to finish off the meal. I can see plenty of blackberries in my garden.. yum!
ReplyDeleteIt's a match made in heaven!
DeleteNo damsons for damson gin this year so I've been looking for an alternative!!
ReplyDeleteI love this! I cant wait to get some blackberries to try it out...although I doubt I can wait until christmas for a sip ;)
ReplyDeleteThis is so funny, I was just telling a friend the other day about Crumbs and how it was full of family-friendly food... I hope she comes to visit you today!
ReplyDeleteI've been saving your UK travel advice posts away in my mental file marked 'when we go to the UK next July', but I really, really want this brandy for Christmas fun. Do you think frozen berries will work? x
Hampshire's short on Blackberries so far, although hoping things might improve with the sunshine. We do a lot of sloe gin here, and blackcurrabt vodka has been a big hit too. Like the look of blackberry brandy :-)
ReplyDeleteExactly as RJ says, very poor blackberry crop in Hampshire this year! But will def do this with the ones I do get. Oh, what a relief to not feel I have to make crumble with them all...
ReplyDeleteOh I know! There's a limit to how much crumble a girl wants to eat/make!
DeleteMy mum made this on Saturday, with me reading instructions over the phone. She doesn't 'do' computers! It looks great already. I've linked it in a post back to here on my blog. Hope you don't mind!
ReplyDeleteof course not! Thank you.
Deletemmmm - must go and check the blackberry situation - there were hardly any in our usual spot last week :(
ReplyDeleteThey're over round here, unfortunately. But we enjoyed them while we could.
DeleteWill be making this tomorrow! Here in Norfolk there are plenty......but no Sloes or Damsons this year....so it will be Cranberry vodka and Blackberry brandy for christmas!
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Hampshire's short on Blackberries so far, although hoping things might improve with the sunshine. We do a lot of sloe gin here, and blackcurrabt vodka has been a big hit too. Like the look of blackberry brandy :-)
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