A Summer Keepsake ~ Blueberry, Plum & Vanilla Liqueur
by fig + fauna farm on 08/19/12
One evening a few years ago, my mother in law gave me a sip of her Damson Plum liqueur. She shared her memory of the summer that she made it, using her mother's tried and true recipe. Pulling the cork off a bottle of a homemade liqueur has a way of unearthing those sweet memories; harvesting and cutting the plums with a friend, remembering the concerns of those days which seem so insignificant today. We quickly made plans to make our own batch of blueberry liqueur. That blueberry liqueur began to open my mind to a world of preservation. I made fig, cherry and rose petal liqueur. I checked them more often than I should have for sweetness and flavor (someone had to do it!) As time went on the vibrant color of the fruit was extracted by the vodka and the taste became rich. I gave a few away as gifts for Christmas and others we sipped on special occasions.
But one jar, hidden in the back of the pantry only surfaced this week. 2007 Blueberry Liqueur, the faded label read.
Unscrewing the lid, I began to dwell upon where we were when we made that precious bottle of liqueur. We were newlyweds ~ no child but a twinkle in our eyes and in the middle of our first home renovation. We had two dogs, not five and certainly no chickens, cows or pigs to love. We were concerned most with how our business would grow and yet today, it's grown beyond our wildest dreams.
I love this time capsule liqueur. It reminds us of who we are and where we've been - and once the liqueur is open, the best thing to do is celebrate all that's happened since you last saw what's inside.
/// PHOTOS BY ROSE E MARTIN
The possibilities are endless with this liqueur. Plums, peaches, grapes, pears, strawberries...even nuts are allowed here. The vodka will preserve what ever you decide to fill your jar with. This time, I used a few tart plums, a handful of blueberries and a vanilla bean. Try not to taste test it too much as it matures - the longer it rests the better it tastes!
BLUEBERRY PLUM & VANILLA LIQUEUR
You will need:
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A clean two quart jar
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2 cups blueberries
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1 cup quartered plums
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2 cups vodka
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1 cup sugar
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1 vanilla bean (sliced down middle)
Place all ingredients in the jar and screw on lid tightly. For one week, turn the jar back and forth from time to time in order to dissolve the sugar. Store jar in a cool dark place for at least two months. Strain liquid and bottle or serve.
