Cranachan Whisky - will it work?

[British Red]

Three pounds of raspberries, half a pound of wildflower honey, three vanilla pods (to add a creaminess) and two bottles of malt scotch.....

Raspberry Whisky by British Red, on Flickr


Now - am I on to something here - or will it be wrong on a new level?

Place your bets!

 

[Chainsaw]

Whisky - good
Raspberries - good
Vanilla - good
Honey - good

What can go wrong?

 

[Harvestman]

Sounded great until you added whiskey...

Then again, I'm open to being persuaded by some free samples when it is ready

 

[Toddy]

What Chainsaw said

Lot of honey that though...... got to be worth trying though

You will let us know how it turns out ?

M

 

[Dogoak]

Sounds great, even if it is wrong after a couple of glasses it will be right

 

[British Red]

What Chainsaw said

Lot of honey that though...... got to be worth trying though

You will let us know how it turns out ?

M

I will report back - I didn't think half a jar between two bottles of scotch was a huge amount of honey...but it may be...time will tell. Its a very delicate honey and not oversweet. It'll be much less sweet than stags breath for sure

 

[Albus Culter]

I've no idea how that will turn out.

But it sure sounds like its worth trying

 

[Macaroon]

I really can't begin to imagine how that will turn out; but even if you didn't fancy it for sipping, what a base to experiment with for marinades and sauces, eh? How would anything wondrous ever come to light if nobody played with such ideas? Good on you, sez I............

 

[bilmo-p5]

Sounds like the basis for a stunning (literally & figuratively) trifle.

 

[Goatboy]

Hi Red,

Sounds an interesting one and along with Harvestman and as a Scot and Whisky aficionado I'd be happy to try it for you, purely in the interest of science you understand!


Have made all sorts of liquors (we have an annual martini contest in the village) and whisky ones are the hardest to get right I find. Best whisky one was a cranberry whisky, though not a good idea to let it rest in a pewter hip flask for a length of time; it eats it's way out. Whisky does need the sweetness but it's hard to gauge that when using honey.


Good luck and look forward to your taste review.

 

[Nice65]

Sounds like the basis for a stunning (literally & figuratively) trifle.

Ooh, yes. That sounds great.

I'd be half tempted to top the jar with whiskey. There's a lot of water in those raspberries, it might help reduce the chance of mould, amongst other beneficial effects

 

[British Red]

I only had two bottles of the cheap stuff and they are already in the jar

My cask strength Ileach is NOT going in!

 

[Nice65]

I concur

It should be alright in a cool place. This recent weather is meaning all our fruit is needing to be dealt with very quickly. Strawberries are barely lasting a day if not in the fridge.

 

[galopede]

I've made blackberry whisky in the past but used plain granulated sugar and cheap cooking whisky and it turned out excellent. Like sloe gin, it doesn't have much taste of the original spirit but there is something there!

Be interested to hear how yours turns out.

Gareth

 

[bigbear]

Interesting.......... The ingredients are all great, the combination should be delicious. Let us know !

 

[British Red]

So it went this colour

Whisky in the jar by British Red, on Flickr

It smelled great

Cranachan whisky by British Red, on Flickr

It tasted ...absolutely superb

Cranachan Raspberry Whisky by British Red, on Flickr

Not at all sweet but real raspberry strength at the beginning, then whisky warmth but no burn and lingering ice cream notes from the vanilla as you swallow.

One small bottle will go to my ageing farmer friend to help with his bad hip The rest I will guard jealously till Winter.

I venture to suggest that its better than blackberry brandy!

 

[treadlightly]

Red, so, it's good after just a month or so. Do you reckon it will improve with age? Also what quality whisky did you use.

It's that time of year when my mind turns to fruit and alcohol combos and this sound very tempting.

 

[British Red]

It is great after a month. I'm not certain whether it will improve. It needs no more flavour so I will strain the fruit and pods off, filter and bottle one evening soon and then time will tell. I have bottles of fruit spirits five and more years old, but it'll be a struggle to leave this alone.

I used cheap "own label" malt - I would suggest a speyside or lowland - certainly not an Islay - its quite a delicate taste and, much as I love an Islay malt, it wouldn't combine well with soft fruit.

HTH

Red

 

[Goatboy]

Was thinking of your experiment at the weekend whilst being plied with Krupnik, a Polish drink made from Grain alcohol (you’ll need four cups or half of a half-gallon), Local wildflower honey (two cups), Vanilla pod or vanilla extract, Cinnamon sticks, Nutmeg, Cloves, Mace, Allspice, whole or ground Whole peppercorns, One orange, One lemon.

Sounds like you've made yourself a wee winner there, if nowt else the colour is lovely. Remember if you're ever passing!...

 

[British Red]

Right back at you

I have whole honeycombs dissolving in a blend of sack mead and lowland malt as well for a little variety!