Simple Blackberry Gin Food

BLACKBERRY GIN

Steps:

• Tip the blackberries and sugar into a 1.5-litre sterilised jar. Pour over the gin, seal the jar and swirl around to dissolve the sugar. Store in a cool, dark place and turn the jar once a day for the first week.
• After two-three weeks, strain the gin through a sieve. Pour the gin into bottles, and label. The gin will keep its colour for a few months and will be drinkable for up to a year. Use the infused blackberries in a cocktail like a bramble, or in a trifle.

BLACKBERRY-GIN FIZZ FLOATS

Steps:

• Heat the blackberries, sugar and 1 tablespoon water in a small pot over medium heat, smashing the berries with a potato masher, until thick, about 5 minutes. Pour the mixture through a sieve into a bowl, pushing the juice through with a rubber spatula. Refrigerate until cold, at least 10 minutes.
• Fill a cocktail shaker with 2 tablespoons of the blackberry juice, 2 tablespoons mint, 2 ounces gin, 1 tablespoon lime juice and a handful of ice. Shake vigorously until the drink is ice cold, 5 or 6 times. Strain into a tall glass. Top with ginger ale and stir lightly. Repeat to make 3 more drinks. Top each with a scoop of ice cream.

SIMPLE BLACKBERRY GIN RECIPE

Steps:

• Place the blackberries in a sterilised jar and cover with the sugar. Add the gin and give the jar a good shake. Place the jar in a dark place, like a kitchen cupboard.
• Give the jar a shake every so often over the next few days until the sugar has dissolved.
• Leave to mature. It's drinkable in 4 weeks but it can be left for 3 months.
• Strain the gin through a muslin cloth, try not to break up the blackberries. Pour the liquid into a bottle. If you think it needs it, add a little more sugar and shake until it's dissolved. Tip: Though you won't need the actual blackberries after this stage you don't have to discard them. Pop them into a glass of Prosecco for a blackberry gin cocktail.
• After 4 weeks, the gin is beautiful dark red in colour. It still holds a boozy strength but with a fruity tone of the blackberries. For the perfect, refreshing summer cocktail, serve a double measure chilled over ice and topped up with tonic.
• If your leave the gin for 3 months, it mellows and the full fruitiness of the blackberries comes through and it's smooth enough to serve over ice as a liqueur. An excellent addition is a cinnamon stick which can be added to the gin at the same time as the sugar.

BLACKBERRY GIN FIZZ

Steps:

• Tip the gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup and egg white into a cocktail shaker. Shake well until frothy, then add a large handful of ice and shake again until the outside of the shaker feels cold.
• Double-strain into a tall glass filled with some more ice, then top up with the sparkling water. Thread a blackberry onto a cocktail stick to use as a garnish, or top with a thyme sprig.