Saturday, February 28, 2015

Cordial: Strawberry/Tequila

My favorite cordial to date!

I made this almost two years ago, and very little remains. The color is not extremely strong, similar to what you might expect from a "watermelon" jolly rancher more than a "cherry" one, a pinkish red.

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Unfortunately as I was just experimenting and didn't realize how enthusiastically I would take to cordials, I didn't document these as I was making them. I'm reasonably sure the base was this:

3c strawberries
1 1/2 c sugar
2 cup 100-proof vodka
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon orange zest
1 teaspoon fresh-squeezed lemon juice

Crush berries and sugar in a bowl, let sit 1 hour. Transfer to container, add all other ingredients. Sit two days, strain out solids. Transfer to new container, age 1 week. Rack into final container, age for at least 1 month before serving.

(p. 25 of Cordials from your Kitchen)

But, I didn't follow that! I'm reasonably certain I omitted the lemon and orange zest, and the lemon juice. I MAY have included the lemon juice, as I simultaneously made a lemon cordial.

My big difference is that I used tequila, not vodka. I am fairly sure it was clear Sauza silver (I won it as a door prize at a casino event). I let it sit for six months before bottling, and another six-12 months before I got a better strainer and re-strained it. People opening the bottle comment it smells like pure tequila but tastes nothing like it! I will definitely remake it, and document it better this time.

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