Cordials capture the essence of ripe fruit.
A cordial is a taste of summer at any time of year. First made in Renaissance Italian apothecaries, cordials were liqueurs steeped with the flavor and potency of herbs and spices. Making your own cordial is a good way to use leftover ripe fruit. Adding alcohol and sugar enhances and preserves the flavor of the fruit. This simple recipe produces a cordial that is good enough to give as a gift or keep in your pantry long after summer is over. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Instructions
1. Fill the entire clean glass bottle with cut fruit. Experiment with different combinations, or just use one type of fruit.
2. Add 1/2 cup of sugar.
3. Pour the vodka into the fruit-filled glass, leaving about 1 inch of space at the top.
4. Screw the lid on tightly and shake the jar vigorously.
5. Store the jar in a cool, dark place, and shake it every few days. The cordial will be ready a month after bottling; the flavor will intensify with age. Serve the cordial over ice or mixed with club soda.
Tags: ripe fruit