DIY Blackberry Bourbon

Hey bourbon lovers! This recipe is for you! I was inspired by Jelly Bones' blog post on homemade blackberry brandy, so Matt and I decided it'd be yummy to try to infuse some bourbon. I don't know much about infusing alcohol, so this recipe is by no means authoritative, or a perfect recipe, this is just what we did, and I enjoyed the finished product...

For this recipe, you will need:

• a liquor bottle
• a pint of blackberry
• a little over half a fifth of bourbon, we used Jim Beam

 Fill bottle with the pint of blackberries. Top off with bourbon. It's that simple. The rest is a waiting and shaking game. 

 Store bottle in a dry dark place. I put ours in the pan cabinet of the kitchen. Agitate daily. 

Two weeks in. Starting to change color.

 On day 30, we strained the bourbon from the blackberries using a colander and mixing bowl. The blackberries were a little stubborn to get out of the bottle, since they absorbed a good bit of bourbon.

 The blackberries make great garnishes in drinks, they're little bites of bourbon. It's like the bourbon and blackberries traded flavors. The bourbon a bit sweeter, and the blackberries all bourbon. I used additional bourbon to soak the blackberries in, and placed them in the fridge to keep them wet.

 Pour bourbon back in bottle and sit on the shelf.

We enjoyed our bourbon over ice with a few blackberries, and it was great. Maybe try with a little sprite or ginger ale, for those bourbon drinkers that don't like it straight up. 

Next batch, I'm going to try adding a bit of sugar, I think then it will actually frement the blackberries. I can't wait to try this again. We're going to try a few at a time, next time. Maybe some bacon vodka for Bloody Mary's, and some flavored brandy. These would also make great gifts! 

Happy Holidays everyone! Cheers!