Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

I have just finished the last of this I made couple of years ago - it was fabulous. I don't know the availability of redcurrants out there - probably only frozen. if you get a chance give it a go.

Redcurrant gin

• Makes: 75cl
• Prep time: 10 mins
(plus 2-3 months maturing)
• Total time: 10 mins
(plus 2-3 months maturing)



Ingredients

• 300g (10oz) redcurrants
• 150g (5oz) caster sugar
• 75cl bottle of gin


Method
1 Crush the redcurrants with the sugar, put in a jar, pour in the gin and seal.
2 Leave 2-3 months in a cool, dark place, shaking the jar daily for a month, then just when you remember.
3 Strain through a sieve, then through muslin and pour into a bottle.
4 Drink neat, or made into a gin and tonic, with lots of ice.

Kath: I have seen red currents in Shah, but the price they were for a tiny basket it would have made a very expensive drink.

I used to make Sloe Gin in the UK to the same recipe but I am sure sloes (which I could pick inthe wild for nothing) are not available here.

You CAN get oranges and cheap local brandy and it is possible to make a very pleasant brandy liqueur on the same principles , you would have to experiment a little with the proportions of sugar and spirit, I have loads of tarunç oranges going spare if you want them and are prepared to pick them youself.

Ragged Robin, there are similar fruits that grow wild here. They are small and purple ish in colour. they are called Yaban Eric by locals. I have used them years ago to make sloe gin and very nice it was too, even though i don't like gin. I think it was around summer time they are ripe.

I have 3 'damson' type trees. They seem to be a bit like a cross between wild damsons and plum, sweeter than damsons. there are quite a few little 'treelets' growing if anybody wants them, contact me when planning your next Karpaz trip.

Thanks for the offers. Bad year for Sloes in UK. Normally have a couple of bottles of Sloe Gin put down by now - fortunately I still have some fro a couple of years back guess will have to drink that! Happy New Year to you all