Blackberry liqueur

 Blackberry liqueur

Crème de mûre aka Blackberry liqueur

This summer was especially good for blackberries. It made perfect sense to try something new and exciting - Crème de mûre aka Blackberry liqueur. It's a pretty straightforward recipe which I'd like to share with you. À votre santé!

Summary

Makes about 1 litre

Preparation:20 mins

Cooking:3 mins

2 days macerating


Ingredients

600g blackberries, fresh of course!

750ml bottle of good-quality red wine

300g white granulated sugar (add more if you like it sweeter)

300ml vodka (or gin)

Method

STEP 1



Pick tree-ripe blackberries and remove any stalks or leaves - wash thoroughly. 


Tip into a large ceramic or glass bowl and pour over the wine. 


Crush the berries into the wine using a potato masher. 


Cover with a tea towel and leave to macerate in a cool place for 2 days, mashing occasionally.


STEP 2


Pour the mixture through a plastic sieve, then pass again through the sieve or a colander lined with a square of muslin, loose plain weave cloth made from cotton, to remove any seeds or fleshy bits. 


STEP 3 


Tip the juice into a pan and add the sugar. Heat gently, stirring until the sugar has dissolved, then simmer for 2-3 minutes to get a syrupy consistency. 


STEP 4 

Let it cool to room temperature, then stir in the vodka or gin. 


Pour into sterilised bottles, then seal and label. It’s ready to use straight away. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight for up to 1 year.


THE FUN PART

Serve chilled.



Bonus STEP: With the wine-soaked mushed-up blackberries - make a blackberry and apple crumble or jam. Visit https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/apple-blackberry-crumble 



August 2023 update


In my second year, I used a different crop of blackberries, that I grew in my garden. I believe these are Natchez thornless blackberries, super-productive summer-bearing primo-canes that are self-pollinating yielding up to 20 lbs per season. Another twist was using 25% brown sugar for a deeper colour.  



 

Blackberries ripening in the California sun


Yummy 😋



Sharing with my friends in the garden


July 2024 update


2024 was a bonanza year for Blackberries

The final result was a very smooth satisfying liqueur

We had an unusually hot spell in July 2024 that stressed out the berry canes - and produced some of the juiciest, sweetest berries ever, resulting in a very smooth and satisfying 😋 liqueur 🍷


July 2025 update

I couldn't wait for the firstfruits to ripen in the surprisingly mild summer of '25, and the first batch went toward making liqueur, of course!

I used these ingredients that I had in my pantry


This is the result along with my artwork, as I have been doing one watercolour painting a day (and occasionally a short poem) for the sheer fun of it



French monks were the first to clue into this digestif
Have it when you need to chill or if you feel festive

My garden abounds in sweet, large, juicy blackberries
O la la liqueur is divine, the drink of the fairies

'Tis my fourth year making it, an annual summer ritual
Best had chilled to make the experience nigh spiritual

Now that I've whetted your appetite, I'll share the recipe
Be warned, one sip of this ambrosia 'n you'll taste ecstasy





Reference 

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/blackberry-liqueur-creme-de-mure


Location: Willowgate Community Gardens, Andsbury Ave, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA

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