Home Distiller

I conducted a simple test. I cut up Nectarines, Pears, strawberries, then whole blueberries, cherries and black berries. I filled several small mason jars with each type of fruit. I then topped each jar with 120p sugar based (neutral) shine. I let them soak for 3 weeks. I then tasted each batch. Here is my opinions:
#1. Cherries, very smooth, doesn't have the bite of the liquor anymore
#2. Strawberries, tasty, smooth, still a bit of a bite
#3 (tie) Blueberries and Blackberries, full flavor, still a bite
#5 Nectarines, flavorful, lots of bite
#6. Pears, Not as good as I hoped, lots of bite. I may have used the wrong pears. I think they were Bartlet, definitely too soft. A harder cooking style might be better.

I HIGHLY recommend the cherries and strawberries. (I'm not even a real cherry fan, but this stuff is like smooth schnapps.

Thanks for that.

I wrote up a method for a cherry & corn liqueur last night and was going to get the cherries today. Sounds like it might be even better than I was hoping.

Welcome to the forum.

What was the purpose of the test? To see if you like it? Have a look at the strawberry panty dropper recipes thread. In the tried and true recipes section. It will help you with fruit macerations. With or without added sugar. Might pick up some tips. Like adding a bit of lemon juice. To help with the fruit flavors coming through better.

I know about the panty dropper. I was looking for an infused fruit that was tasty. I wanted to eat the fruit also. I may try adding sugar, I just wanted to find the best fruit first. More testing to come.....

I made some mighty fine lime aide by placing two lime wedges in a 12oz beer bottle and topping up with white dog. Liked it better than any lime flavored vodka or gin I had tasted before. It was almost too good. Sent a bottle to Jimbo, I think he liked it!
Ga Flatwoods

This technique is called "geist" in Germany and Austria, used for fruits that have a distinctive aroma and taste but not that much sugar or an expensive/rare fruit. Like Himbeergeist is a 95%alc. neutral spirit infused with raspberries. The ratio is 20 L alcohol for 100kg ripe fruit.

What was the coloration like? Sickly brown? Attractive?

The lime had a faint light greenish yellow color, very pretty. It was very flavorful and refreshing.
Ga Flatwoods

I just signed on to ask about infusing fruits and this is the first post I see. Is it better to infuse into a higher proof, I've been getting 170p, or a diluted proof, say 85p? I did a few cinnamon sticks in the 170 for a month and it was like an atomic fireball. When we diluted it to around 85p it was really good. Just curious if the proof affects how much flavor and how long before the flavor gets pulled out. I just picked a few pounds of peaches and only have some 85p gerber laying around and I don't think the peaches will make it until another batch is made.

magicjeep wrote:I just signed on to ask about infusing fruits and this is the first post I see. Is it better to infuse into a higher proof, I've been getting 170p, or a diluted proof, say 85p? I did a few cinnamon sticks in the 170 for a month and it was like an atomic fireball. When we diluted it to around 85p it was really good. Just curious if the proof affects how much flavor and how long before the flavor gets pulled out. I just picked a few pounds of peaches and only have some 85p gerber laying around and I don't think the peaches will make it until another batch is made.

The panty dropper thread pretty much covers fruit infusion. http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =14&t=2199 My preferred method however is to actually cut the likker with fruit juice from full strength to whatever I want it to be. I personally have had better results that way.

mffi wrote:#6. Pears, Not as good as I hoped, lots of bite. I may have used the wrong pears. I think they were Bartlet, definitely too soft. A harder cooking style might be better.

I did something similar with pear and it took about a couple of years before it became delicious. For the longest time, it was a taste muddle, with no discernible pear flavour. I kinda just forgot about it and when I tried it again recently, it was really good and it actually tasted like pear. A decent good drop in the end, if you like that sort of drink.

If I were to use pear I would cook them to mush and add the juice. That is if you can resist drinking it straight up. Smells like Mama's pear cobbler but works better than a laxative if ya drink too much of it. No shite!

ga flatwoods wrote:Smells like Mama's pear cobbler but works better than a laxative if ya drink too much of it. No shite!

No shite? Or lots of shite? Haha