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Bottles of various sizes filled with damson gin liqueur with labels attached for gifting.
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5 from 2 votes

Damson Gin Liqueur

Damson gin is the taste of autumn in a bottle. If you like sloe gin then you'll love this easy to make damson gin liqueur. The rich and fruity flavour is enhanced with a subtle touch of spice and orange peel.
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Alcoholic Drink
Cuisine: British
Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 1 x 650ml bottle
Calories: 79kcal

Ingredients

  • 600 ml Gin London Dry Gin
  • 300 g Damsons Fresh or frozen
  • 75 g White sugar
  • 75 g Demerara sugar
  • 1 Strip Orange peel optional
  • 1 Star anise optional
  • 1 Clove optional
  • ½ teaspoon Vanilla extract optional

Instructions

  • Begin by washing the fruit and pricking each damson 6 times using a sharp knife
  • Put all ingredients (except the vanilla) into a large jar and secure the lid
  • Shake the jar gently several times a day for the next 3-4 days until the sugar has fully dissolved then store for around 12 weeks in a cool dark place, shaking occasionally
  • Add the vanilla, mix well, then strain the liquid through a sieve
  • Optional: strain a second time through muslin or a nutbag to ensure a really clear liqueur
  • Decant into bottles and gift/ use over the year ahead

Notes

  • Frozen damsons can be used in this recipe. Simply remove them from the freezer and look to see if the skins have split open already. If they have not, bash with a rolling pin to split the skin and proceed with the instructions
  • Since you're adding to the gin significantly with this recipe, there's no need to use expensive gin. Any decent quality London Dry Gin works well, but I do enjoy using Opihr gin, because it has a subtle spice profile that pairs well with the autumn fruit in this recipe
  • For a classic damson gin leave out the star anise, clove, vanilla and orange peel
  • Once the 12 weeks are up taste the damson gin - if you would like it sweeter, now is the time to add a little more sugar (shake it every few hours until dissolved)
  • Although the liqueur can be consumed as soon as it has been prepared, the flavour keeps on developing in the bottle. Try putting some aside to age for up to a year, it becomes particularly smooth
  • Use sloes instead of damsons to make a sloe gin liqueur

Nutrition

Serving: 25ml | Calories: 79kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 2mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg