Red Currents

[Runningwolf]

Lately I have been playing around with making Brandy or liquors. I'm not sure which to call it. I've been adding different berries to quart jars and adding vodka. After 4-6 months I strain the berries and sweeten to taste with simple syrup. My question is I have some frozen red currents. Do you think these would be worth doing?

 

[cimbaliw]

Without question! I learned of this technique from my neighbors who are Hungarian ex-pats/Refugees from a border realignment that placed them into Ceausescu communism. Their recipe starts with an empty gallon jug. They put about 1-1.5 inches of white sugar in the bottom then 1-1.5 inches of sour cherries. Next the jug is filled with 100 proof Absolut and stashed for a minimum of 6 months. Bragging rights come from how long you've held on to it. I have to imagine any fruit will work. Their stuff tastes like apple pie. At some point eating the fruit will seem like a good idea... be prepared for a hallucinogenic experience!

 

[Runningwolf]

I actually tried it in January and stashed them away and forgot all about them until two weeks ago. I bought frozen fruit from walmart (red raspberries, cherry's, blueberries) and I already had frozen elderberries. I did a jar of each and mixed everything I had left into another jar. I think my favorite was the red raspberry and the mixed fruit. I just picked up a 5 pound bag of red raspberries and mixed berries from GFS. I will be doing gallon batches this time. I've heard of adding sugar upfront or the way I did it. I like having the control at the end on how much to add.

 

[WVMountaineerJack]

Its unfortunate that red currants are not readily available here since they have such a great taste. Your experiment should work very well, how much fruit have you been adding, sticking with the traditional 3 lb for gallon some country winemakers use or filling it half full of fruit before the vodka. I would think honey would work in this also and add another layer of flavor. WVMJ

 

[Runningwolf]

Jack thanks. Honey I am not interested in but I do have a supplier if I am. Not know what I was doing the first time I filled the jars clear full of fruit then added the vodka. I will cut it down next time.

 

[Arne]

Dan, where did you find the red currants?? I have never seen them in a store. Have some in the back yard, but didn't get them all picked this year. Picked some, but currant picking is slow, an hour and a half or so and had a couple of pounds. Anyway, got into the chiggers so bad didn't go back and pick the rest. Don't find many folks that have them. Arne.

 

[Runningwolf]

We picked about 20 pounds at my friends house after they got all they wanted foot jelly.

 

[WVMountaineerJack]

I should have asked first how acidic they were, the reds we grew even when full ripe were worse them lemons so a half jar of them would be plenty, but if yours are not so acidic a full jar would be more flavor. I woutd think this with some dried elderberries would be outstanding plus the intensityof the color would be unsurpassed, nobody would be able to copy it not knowing the elderberry addition, a little bit of oak for barrel aging authenticity. Man you could start a whole new hobby with this, I cant help you anymore, I dont have any more room for experiments! WVMJ and just an inch of vanilla bean to smooth it out, and 2 drops of liquid smoke,thats all.

Jack thanks. Honey I am not interested in but I do have a supplier if I am. Not know what I was doing the first time I filled the jars clear full of fruit then added the vodka. I will cut it down next time.

 

[Runningwolf]

Jack why dried elderberries vs frozen ones? I my be able to get some frozen ones from a friend. I do have have a few pounds of black currents and could maybe add those in with them. I also like the vanilla bean idea.

 

[WVMountaineerJack]

Most people dont have frozen ones but they would work to, I like the dried ones for this as they dont add anymore water plus there is a difference in taste, the dries ones kind of like being the raisin of the elder. A small cube of fresh ginger root, not the powder, would spice it all up. STOP, dont need new hobby..... I got wormwood growing all over the place as weeds, but thats for a different batch

WVMJ

 

[Runningwolf]

JACK, You are no good! You're in the same boat as pjd, NO GOOD for me. OMG it's a good thing we all don't live any closer, we are all so bad for each other. I just ordered one pound of vanilla beans for future projects. Tell me can I buy dried black currents at Wally World? If not I'll just use what I have frozen. Now when do I find the time? The next couple of days I'll be selling Italian juice buckets to everyone that ordered them and Sunday I'll start the four I bought. I have yet to find time to start wine from any native juice and it's getting pretty late unless if I go to Walkers.

 

[WVMountaineerJack]

I asked not to be included in this thread anymore!

http://www.currantc.com/ has dried black currants

I think you were more asking about dried elderberries

Mountainroseherbs.com

THey are Nigra not Canadensis, but should do a good job, we had to use some in a special batch that needed dried elderberries because my crop has failed 2 years ago and fruit flies got them this year.

These should keep you busy a while. Dont forget to pick up some dried strawberries to add a little extra nose to your concoctions, that would be another unexpected surprise for peoples.

WVMJ

 

[Runningwolf]

SEE, we do need each other. Yes dried elderberries. Thanks