The Perfect Gift

Written by Rosemary Mantini | 04 December 2009

Ah ... liqueurs - that sweet beginning and ending to a memorable meal. Although a bar stocked with a variety of aperitifs and digestifs is a wonderful thing, you don't actually need to visit the liquor store. Making your own tasty libation is very easy. All you need are a few simple ingredients and a little patience. In no time, you will be enjoying the fruits of your labour.

All liqueurs begin with a base of vodka, grappa or brandy. Step one is determining whether you'd like the base alcohol to remain neutral or add a little flavour of its own. Grappa will lend the liqueur a subtle smokiness, while brandy will give the liqueur nuances of burnt orange. Then add sugar and decide which fruit you prefer to showcase. Choose in-season fresh fruit or out-of-season dried fruit. Dried fruit releases more intense flavours into the alcohol. Whichever you choose, you'll find that the fruit mellows the alcohol with its sweetness and fragrance.

If you decide to make homemade fruit liqueurs to give as gifts, pay a visit to a dollar store for pretty glass bottles. Get corks at a make-your-own-winery place. Tie a pretty ribbon around the neck of the bottle and attach a homemade tag to it. Serve the liqueur chilled as is, or stir an ounce into a glass of sparkling wine or water. You can even drizzle the liqueur over ice cream, cake or fresh fruit.

Peach Liqueur

Cranberry Liqueur

Pear Brandy

how-to | liqueur