Benjamin Franklin's Orange Shrub

[evildrakey]

I'd thought I'd share my latest project:

http://imgur.com/xPmiZ

The recipe was found in Benjamin Franklin's papers and dates to 1750. The original sits in the Library of Congress I believe...

The original Recipe: To a Gallon of Rum two Quarts of Orange Juice and two pound of Sugar-dissolve the Sugar in the Juice before you mix it with the Rum -put all together in a Cask & shake it well-let it stand 3- or 4-Weeks & it will be very fine & fit for Bottlingwhen you have Bottled off the fine pass the thick thro' a Philtring paper put into a Funnell-that not a drop may be lost. To obtain the flavour of the Orange Peel paire a few Oranges & put it in Rum for twelve hours-& put that Rum into the Cask with the other-For Punch thought better without the Peel.

My Version:

5 litres spirit @ 40%vol with Navy dark rum essence (for 2.25 litres according to the pack),
OR
5 litres of lightish flavoured Rum to your own recipe,

Juice of 8 seville oranges, Zest of 3 seville oranges (Seville oranges are the bitter oranges than go on sale around Octoberish and are used for Scotch marmalade mainly)
32 grams vanilla bean paste,
500 grams golden syrup,
100 grams Tennessee Bourbon Oak chips (toasted).

Add to a wide mouthed glass jar for 3 months to develop (yes, I know this is a long time on oak - recipe seems to enjoy it tho)
Strain, filter, and bottle...

Preliminary tastings amongst about a dozen of us has been very positive, with the final product tasting like a rum based Grand Marnier, with it being more subtle on the orange note than Grand Marnier, but very tasty and smooth. Over crushed ice, it's very nice as well as being served straight up with a twist of lime. We haven't played with it much in cocktails yet, but I'm liking it straight up frankly...

[NcHooch]

Christmas presents?
....they look mighty inviting

[Mr Shine]

Looks really nice. Where did you get the bottles?

[evildrakey]

The bottles are made in italy... Those ones are the nice bottles, to be kept for gifts and the like.
I also have a few 750ml dutch cap bottles for the house...

I buy them from http://www.plasdene.com.au, they're not cheap tho, and I cant find that model, so it may have been discontinued

I also have quite a few of these sexy beasts too: http://www.plasdene.com.au/category/pro ... 00-1088-FL

[Mr Shine]

Awesome! Thank you.

Cheers!

[evildrakey]

My pleasure - I forgot to mention they're set up mainly for wholesale and there is a $60 minimum to an order.

If you're outside of australia, they may not be the most convienient choice...