Brandy gets all wintery in this Winter Solstice Brew with flavors of anise, cinnamon, vanilla, orange and black pepper! Makes wonderful homemade Christmas gifts!
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Winter Solstice Brew
According to the weather forecasters, it’s going to be a cold and snowy winter. I’m ready for it. I made this Winter Solstice Brew from Jam It, Pickle It, Cure It: And Other Cooking Projects
by Karen Solomon towards the end of the summer. I’m kind of like a squirrel, only instead of nuts and berries, I tuck infused alcohol into every nook and cranny of my house.
Click here to pin this Winter Solstice Brew now!
This is one that I am really excited about. Who doesn’t love a good infused brandy, especially one infused all wintery with cinnamon and oranges and vanilla. I imagine this is in hot tea, or in one of those cute brandy snifter glasses that make me feel all Masterpiece Theatre as I swirl my brandy around in them.
The good news is that this infuses for about 5 weeks, so if you start it now, right now, you can have it in time for the holidays.
Some more infusions you might like: Chamomile Pear Infused Vodka and Homemade Candy Cane Vodka.
Winter Solstice Brew
Ingredients
- 4 cups brandy
- 2 star anise
- 1 cinnamon stick 8-inch
- 1 vanilla bean sliced lengthwise
- 4 small sweet navel oranges scrubbed, dried, and chopped into 4 to 6 pieces
- 24 black peppercorns
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a clean, odor free wide-mouthed glass jar (all the better if you have a wonderful old canning jar). Label the jar, cap it tightly and store in a cool, dark place for 2 weeks, shaking daily.
- Strain through a fine mesh strainer or coffee filter. Return the infusion to it’s jar, recap it, put it back in a cool, dark place, and let it continue to mellow for 3 more weeks.
- Refrigerate or store in a cool dark pantry almost indefinitely!
Notes
Nutrition
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Would this work with bourbon?
I don't see why not and now I think I'm going to try it!
I have a few days before straining and couldn’t help myself take a taste. What to do, terribly bitter maybe the skins of the oranges. Undrinkable. Will it mellow in the remaining weeks? can I add some sugar? If it stays like this, the drain is the only place its going. 🙁
That's strange, I've never had it taste bitter. It will mellow with age, but if it's still not to your liking, look at my recipe for Orange Liqueur and follow the instructions for the simple syrup.
sorry I cannot find that recipe. Do you have a search on your site? I couldn’t find it.
I found the simple syrup recipe. How much do you think I should add to this brew?
I would start with just a little. 1/2 cup sugar in 1/2 cup water, dissolved over low heat, stirring just until the sugar dissolves. Let it cool and add that. Then just let it age. You can always do that again any time during the aging process if you want it sweeter.
Would fresh oranges work? Don't think I can find dried oranges in D.C.
They call for fresh oranges, I just mean to dry them off after you wash them.
Is a refrigerator = cool and dark? am having a problem with that part.
No, it just means don't store it on a shelf in the sunshine. A pantry works great, a basement or garage. Even just a kitchen cabinet.
Once it has set for 5 weeks- what is the shelf life? How long is this good for? Expiration?
With all of the alcohol, this will last indefinitely. However, flavor wise, we try to drink it up within a year (an easy task!)
Think this would be good with Vodka instead of Brandy?
It would lack some of the rich warm depth that brandy brings. It would have a much lighter feel.
I cant find star anise, what can I use in place of this ingredient?
Can you find anise seeds?
Is there anything I can use in place of the vanilla bean? I have a very hard time finding them where I live.
Thanks!
A little vanilla extract would work.
At the two week mark when it says to strain and return to a jar... does this mean the jar will now no longer have the oranges and ingredients ? As in just the liquid after the two week mark?
Yes. Then you let it age without the fruit to mellow and deepen it's flavor.
Can you store it in an outside refrigerator that isn’t used very much or would it be too cold?
Do you mean for steeping or just for storing after you've finished making it?
Hello! I made this about a week ago and have been shaking it every day. I’ve noticed it’s getting pressurized inside and that Is concerning me a bit. Is this supposed to happen? Thanks!
I've never had any of my infused liqueurs get pressurized! It sounds like it's fermenting. I don't know why it would be doing that, maybe your location is too warm? But anyway, I would open it up and release the pressure. Also you don't have to shake it really hard, you just want to agitate it a bit.
I’ll try putting it in a cooler place. Do you think it’s still safe?
Yes, I think it's still safe. Did you release some of the pressure? Does it still smell okay, no off odors?
Unfortunately I have a bit of a cold and can’t smell, but I’ll have my husband take a whiff when he gets home!
Oh, I hope you feel better!
Thanks!
Do you have to strain it or can you gift it with the ingredients still in it? It’s so festive with the oranges.
I'm not sure, I always strain mine. I would worry that the flavors would get to intense if you leave everything in too long. You could give it to them with the ingredients in it and tell them to strain it, but that might be a hassle for them.
Can you explain more about the dried orange? How long to dry it.. in the oven?
Oh, I just mean dry it off after washing it! I realize in my instructions, I didn't make that clear!
Oh duh my bad! Thank you! 😀
I totally didn't make it clear in my instructions! Not your fault at all!
It sounds wonderful to me, except the peppercorns. Have you tried it without the peppercorns? Do you think it would work?
Yes, it would be fine without the peppercorns. The peppercorns add a little bit of spice and heat, so you would be missing that, but it would still taste good!
I just found this recipe and I’m so upset.......that I didn’t find it sooner! This will be a staple. It looks so pretty. I can’t wait to taste it!!!
It's so good! You'll have to let me know what you think!
Absolutely lovely. I used this for my blot on solstice and had the rest with my family on christmas day. It went down a treat!