Home Made: Damson Vodka

                                                                 

Autumn is upon us and the UK's fruit trees and burst with apples, plums and pears. But let's not overlook the lesser known cousin of the plum, the damson.  Smaller and darker than I plum, I won't recommend these bitter, pitted fruit as your mid morning snack. However when mixed with sugar these hard to find fruit make great jams and jellies. For those of us not ready to morph into out Grandmothers just yet, there is a more practical and perhaps useful recipe for these drupaceous fruit.  Damson Vodka!

Ingredients:

• 1lb/454gm of washed wild damsons
• 6 ozs/168gm of white granulated sugar
• 75cl bottle of medium quality vodka

* You'll also need some kind of glass container. I have an arson of jars and bottles ready to pickle, preserve and ferment. Ebay has tonnes of the things. Just make sure you aren't shipping in glassware from China.

Urban Foraging: Please you a step ladder!

Method:

First your need to forage for them.  Look out for a circular fruit similar to a plum. The damson trees leaves are also similar similar to that of the plum. The flesh has a smooth texture and is a yellowy greenish colour.  If you are not luckily enough to venture into the countryside, you are unlikely to find them in your average Tescos but it's worth asking your local market store if they can get you some. Or head to New Covent Garden market to pick some up yourself. Lucky for me my urban hippy parents grow them outside their house. However, beware of fruit that grows on a busy road as the fruit will have been absorbing pollution.

1. Discard any bad or bruised fruits and prick the chosen ones with a fork.
2. Put all the Damsons in the container and funnel in the vodka and sugar.
3. Shake daily until the sugar has dissolved.
4. Leave in a dark place for at least 3 months but as long as a year if you can resist.
5. Strain the fruit and put the liqueur in a glass bottle. Don't leave the fruit in for over a year or the liqueur may spoil.

NB Drink responsible. Dribble and vomit it not a good look and consuming on an empty stomach will ultimately end in a pounding headache.