Use a total of about 3 cups of any kind of fresh fruit you desire. Choose soft, juicy fruits like berries, peaches etc., not apples or pears (though maybe if you stewed them a little bit first, apples and pears might work really well too! Experiment! You can't really go wrong). I made mine with freshly picked cherries and it was incredible. If you like, you can also add some whole spices (not ground!) which works out really well ...stick cinnamon, allspice, cloves, nutmeg are nice choices...some of each or just one or two at a time.
Basically just stick to the following proportions of fruit:alcohol:syrup and you're good to go.
3 cups of crushed fresh fruits
zest of 1 navel orange
1 750 ml. bottle of vodka
1/2 cup kirsch or cherry eau-de-vie, optional
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup water
Crush the fruit to a coarse pulp into the vodka and pour into a sealable container. Cover and let stand at room temperature for three to four weeks. Keep it in a dark, cool place. Gently turn the container upside down a couple of times once every two or three days to keep the fruits well mixed with the vodka.
After 3-4 weeks, strain off the fruit and filter the liquid. A coffee filter or several layers of cheesecloth work well. Refilter as often as necessary to clarify.
Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan, bring to a boil and let boil for one minute to create a syrup. Set aside till it reaches room temperature. Then stir syrup into the fruit/vodka liquid and decant into a sterilized bottle. (You may need a larger bottle than 750 ml to accommodate the addition of the syrup and juices.)
Mmmmm....lovely, lovely stuff. Makes a wonderful Christmas gift when made with mulling spices.
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