A homemade liqueur can be a small addition to Christmas dinner, but mixing sugar, fruit and vodka does not automatically create a preserve. These six versions are fresh drinks made in small batches and kept refrigerated. They are not commercially shelf-life-tested formulas and do not need months of ageing.<\/p>\n
Ingredients: 150g prepared berries, 80g sugar, 50ml water, 5ml lemon juice and 200ml vodka. Approximate yield: 350\u2013450ml, depending on how much juice is extracted.<\/p>\n
Ingredients: 100g seedless passion fruit pulp, 70g sugar, 50ml water and 200ml vodka. Approximate yield: 350\u2013400ml.<\/p>\n
Bring the pulp, sugar and water to a gentle simmer, stir for 2 minutes and remove from the heat. Cool promptly, add the vodka once cold and bottle. Keep refrigerated. For a ginger variation, simmer 5g sliced ginger in the syrup and remove it before cooling; do not add raw pieces to the bottle.<\/p>\n
Ingredients: 10g unsweetened cocoa powder, 3g instant coffee, 70g sugar, 100ml water, 200ml vodka and 2.5ml vanilla extract. Approximate yield: 350ml.<\/p>\n
Mix cocoa, coffee and sugar in a saucepan. Gradually whisk in the water to avoid lumps. Simmer for 3 minutes while stirring and cool promptly. Add vodka and vanilla only once cold. Refrigerate and shake before serving: cocoa can settle. A chocolate bar is not a direct substitute for the cocoa in this recipe.<\/p>\n
Ingredients: approximately 10g thinly pared coloured peel from 1 washed orange, 70g sugar, 100ml water, 2.5ml vanilla extract and 200ml vodka. Approximate yield: 350ml. Avoid the bitter white pith.<\/p>\n
Simmer the peel, sugar and water for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and steep for 15\u201320 minutes. Strain, discard the peel and cool promptly. Add the vanilla and vodka to the cold syrup, bottle and refrigerate. This is a short infusion; do not leave the drink at room temperature for weeks.<\/p>\n
Ingredients: 150g sweetened condensed milk, 100ml UHT whole milk, 150ml vodka and 2.5ml vanilla extract. Approximate yield: 350\u2013400ml. Contains milk.<\/p>\n
Use chilled ingredients. Whisk the milk and condensed milk until smooth, then gradually whisk in the vodka and vanilla. Bottle and keep refrigerated. Shake gently before serving. Alcohol does not remove the need for refrigeration, and opened UHT milk no longer has the storage conditions of its unopened carton. Replacing only the milk with coconut milk does not make this vegan: the condensed milk is dairy too.<\/p>\n
Ingredients: 70g sugar, 100ml water, 200ml vodka and commercially produced food-grade almond extract at the manufacturer\u2019s dose for approximately 350ml of drink. Concentrations vary considerably: measure according to the label rather than using one universal spoonful.<\/p>\n
Dissolve the sugar in the water over a low heat and simmer for 1 minute. Cool promptly and add the vodka and measured extract. Bottle and refrigerate. This is an almond-flavoured drink, not a reproduction of a commercial brand. Check the extract\u2019s allergen information.<\/p>\n