home canned black berries

[faste]

ive got about 8 quarts of blackberries my late wife had canned in simple syrup about 10 years ago. they still look ok in the jars, i was thinking to try and make a little brandy out of them so i can free up some of these jars.
Any recomendations on wether or not it would be ok and what would be a good way to do it?
Thanks

[Coyote]

Go for it!

It will be fine


Coyote

[WV Shine]

Sounds like an excellent idea faste! That should make some killer brandy. With the simple syrup added in you may not have to add any sugar at all depending on the final volume you're shooting for. Hydrometer will tell I'd take a look at jack keller's wine page (google his name) for some inspiration on making your inital wine with those berries. Lots of good info there.

[Prairiepiss]

Sounds like a damn fine idea to me.

I take it she canned them whole with the syrup? I would smush the berries up some. I used a fruit mill for my mulberries when I made wine. Smushed them up real good. Got as much of the juice out of them I could. I would do that then add water to it till you get the SG you want.

You mite give my mulberry thread a read through. There was some good advice given to me. That may help you out with it. I didn't make enough to distill. But it is becoming a really nice wine. I would love to one day make enough to distill.
viewtopic.php?f=38&t=22409&p=6912716&hilit=mulberries#p6912716

[faste]

Thanks for the advice, I'll give it a go, all I have is bakers yiest right now tho. I guess that should be ok if it's going to be distilled.

[junkyard dawg]

Bakers yeast will be perfect for it.