posted by Southern 09-07-98 6:02 AM
Grape Cordial
1 cup grapes
2 cups vodka or brandy
3/4 to 1-1/4 cups sugar syrup, depending on sweetness desired
Wash and dry grapes. Then either pierce with a needle or cut into quarters.
Place grapes and alcohol in a tightly closed jar. Steep for 1 week, shaking jar occasionally. Strain.
Place grape pulp in a large piece of cheesecloth and twist to get out all the juice. Discard pulp. Add juice to cordial, then filter.
Add sugar syrup to taste. (Make sugar syrup by boiling 1 cup sugar in 1 to 2 cups water for 5 minutes. Refrigerate leftovers.) Mature for 2 weeks. Yields 3 to 4-1/2 cups.
Make a small recipe first, in order to establish the sweetness and amount of flavoring that comes from the fruit that you have available. Then you can adjust the amount of sugar syrup used in later batches.