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Friday, April 5, 2013

{DIY} Ginger Liqueur

{DIY} Ginger Liqueur | www.girlichef.com
Still boozin'.  Still infusin'.  Yes, it's become a bit of an obsession.  Seriously, I'm in need of a liquor cabinet to hold the rainbow-hued bottles of liqueurs and infusions taking up space on my counters and in my pantry.  I have designs on a few different ones, actually.  All of which would make the perfect home for my collection of squatters.  But really, can one be blamed for developing such an enthusiasm for experimentation when one receives a shipment like this at their front door?

I think not.

Now, I know I say stuff like "this is my faaaaaavorite" fairly often.  And every single time I say it, it couldn't be more true.  I'm living in the moment.  So yeah, you probably saw this one coming... Guess which liqueur is my current faaaaaavorite right now?

This one!
{DIY} Ginger Liqueur | www.girlichef.com
While trying to decide what types of liqueurs I wanted to make, I remembered one that Camilla recently mentioned to me...one she thought I would enjoy...ginger.  I knew she was right.  I love the spicy warmth of ginger, and I could envision the enjoyment that a boozy bottle infused with it could bring me.

Ginger-lovers beware!  You'll want to pour a little of this into everything...

...mostly your mouth.

{DIY} Ginger Liqueur
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by Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez
Prep Time: 3 days (unattended)
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Keywords: beverage alcohol ginger Brandy

Ingredients (~1500 ml / ~51 fluid ounces)
  • 4 oz. ginger root
  • 1 vanilla bean
  • 2 c. sugar
  • 3 c. water
  • 2 oranges (you'll only need the peels)
  • 1 (750 ml) bottle Brandy
Instructions
Use a spoon to scrape the peel from the ginger; slice it thinly. Split the vanilla bean in half lengthwise.

Place the vanilla and ginger into a medium pot with the sugar and water; bring to a boil. Reduce to a gentle simmer until ginger is soft, ~20 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely.

Cut the zest from the orange using a 4-hole zester (or use a vegetable peeler, and then cut into thin strips), leaving pith (white part) behind.

Place zest into a glass jar (big enough to hold everything), and then pour the Brandy and the reserved, cooled syrup over it. Seal tightly and shake. Let steep and infuse for 48 hours.

Strain the mixture into a sterilized glass bottle. Let sit at least one more day before serving.

This will keep in a cool, dark place (like a liquor cabinet) for up to one year. If liqueur tastes off or has a cloudy appearance, discard it.

adapted from serious eats
{DIY} Liqueurs | www.girlichef.com
So...do you see these awesome bottles (flasks) that I've been bottling all of my homemade liqueurs in as of late?  Aside from the Ginger Liqueur, there's Arancello and Limoncello, the remains of a couple of batches of Irish Cream, and I just bottled a huge batch of Liz's Coffee (Kahlua) Liqueur.  This weekend I'll be making a beautiful, ruby batch of my favorite Cranberry Liqueur as well.  And then I'm going to have some very happy friends.  Because there's no way I'm drinking all of this myself any time soon.

But anyway, back to those bottles, which I happen to be enamored with.  They come from Freund Container & Supply.  And since I just so happen to have a little bottle and jar addiction, this place is like a wonderland to me.  I mentioned them before, back in December - they have a huge selection of jars, bottles, flasks, vials, boxes, tins, and everything else a do-it-yourself-er could as for.  Well, I had the pleasure of receiving a free case of these bottles so that I could bottle my latest obsession - and now Freund Container is offering up a $100 gift certificate so that YOU TOO can indulge yourself!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS (this giveaway has ended)
How to enter (REQUIRED):
  • Visit the Freund Container website and look around.  Come back and leave a comment on this post telling me which product you think you'd purchase with the gift certificate if you are the winner and what you'd use that product for. (I won't hold you to it, you're free to change your mind if you win.)
Earn extra entries (leave a separate comment for each you one you do):
  • Like Freund Container on Facebook
  • Follow Freund Container on Twitter
  • Follow or like girlichef on any social network (all links in my sidebar)
  • Share this post on any social network (tag me in that share or leave me the link to the share in your comment) - you can use the share buttons at the bottom of this post, if you like
This giveaway is for one $100 gift certificate to Freund Container & Supply. Gift certificate will expire on June 30, 2103. Gift certificate is a one-time use certificate and must be used in its entirety, and any leftover monies on the gift certificate will be forfeited. This giveaway is open to both US and Canadian residents. However, it should be noted that due to current International shipping rates, any Canadian winners will pay higher shipping costs for orders. This giveaway will run from Friday, April 5, 2013 through Friday, April 12, 2013.

Winners may see a $15 small order fee when ordering, but your gift certificate will void that fee.

I will choose one winner, via random drawing from all eligible entries at the close of this giveaway.  They will be contacted via email and given 48 hours to respond with the information requested.  If no response is received, I will draw a new winner from remaining eligible entries.  Please be sure to leave an email address or a link to somewhere you can be contacted (blog, twitter, etc.) if you are the winner.

Freund Container & Supply is the largest distributor of glass bottles, containers and wholesale packaging supplies online. Freund offers over 5,000 items in stock every day, 98% same day shipping and low-price guarantees. Take a look at Freund’s wide selection of jars, tins, bottles and vials for all your crafting and food related needs!
{DIY} Liqueurs | www.girlichef.com
*UPDATE 4/13/13: The winner of the giveaway is...

...congrats Sarah!  I've sent an email your way and look forward to hearing back from you. Enjoy.