
Quince Brandy. Getting Ready for Christmas
Brandy enhanced with quince, vanilla, grated nutmeg, lemon peel, ginger and brown sugar to make a rich fruity drink for the Christmas season.
I know, you think I’ve peaked early but making bottles of liqueurs and flavoured spirits now ahead of the Christmas season will give you a drinks cabinet the finest cocktail bars would envy. Even if cocktails are not your thing, a couple of teaspoons of this in the bottom of your glass of fizz on Christmas morning will make your festive season shine.
The vanilla in the brandy gives a delicious creamy note and the brown sugar adds a rich toffee flavour that takes this drink to another level. Should you wish to remove the sugar all together that would be fine but the brandy would have a harsher edge which is lends itself perfectly to roaring log fires with toasty feet silhouetted in front of dancing flames.
Tots of this brandy from hip flasks are most welcome mid festive season walk especially when the frost hasn’t bothered to thaw giving a nod to those of us who lose track of which day it is in between Christmas and New Year.
Should you find yourself short of time and your quince brandy steeps for less than the given recipe time, don’t stress. It will taste fine but just less intense and less rounded and smooth. Anything served in a glass of bubbly is always well received and will put a smile on anyone’s face.
This Hot Gin recipe is a true winter warmer. Not complicated to make, quick and delicious.
Brandy flavoured with quince, vanilla, grated nutmeg, lemon peel, ginger and brown sugar to make a rich fruity drink for the Christmas season.
Quince Brandy
70cl bottle of brandy
1 large or 5 small quinces
2 strips lemon peel
1 small vanilla pod
½ tsp grated nutmeg
1 thumbnail fresh ginger, sliced
50g brown sugar
Sterlise a large sealable jar or bottle by washing in hot soapy water. Rinse then towel dry and place in a 140C/120C fan/gas mark 1 preheated oven for 20 minutes.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
Quarter and core the quinces and add to the jar along with the lemon peel and vanilla pod.
Add the nutmeg, ginger slices and brown sugar.
Top with the brandy until you’ve used up nearly all but 60ml or so. You can drink this later but keep the empty bottle as you will be using this for the finished quince brandy.
Once sealed, give everything a good swirl to ensure the sugar has dissolved. Place in a cool place out of sunlight (a bottom shelf out of the way). Every couple of days give it another swirl and it should be ready in about 6-8 weeks, longer if you can.
Decant into a jug through a sieve into a jug and restrain through a coffee filter lined funnel into the brandy bottle. Label and allow to round further in the jar for a good 2-3 weeks ideally but if you are short of time, it will be fine mixed with sparkling wine or used sparingly in whipped cream.
Note:
You don’t need to buy the best brandy to make this. Regular shop bought own label is fine but just not the scarily cheap variety.
31 Comments
Perfect timing, my mum has just given me some quinces! Was planning quince vodka but your recipe seems so much nicer.
I’m not a fan of brandy at all and I’ve never actually heard of quinces before! My husband loves brandy though, I’ll ask if he has heard of them!
Ohhh my gosh this is amazing and so cool I love the whole brandy this is fab for this time of year too.
Thanks Hannah x
Do you know I have never tried Quince before but I do like Brandy and this sounds like a great addition to a brandy drink. It makes me feel all festive!
This looks great. Im feeling all christmassy right now after seeing the recipe
I’ve got more coming. I think I might have scheduled rather too many festive drinks posts!!
Oh this sounds really nice, I do think with some things for Christmas you have to be ultra prepared x
Ooo this has deffo got me feeling festive, I love this idea and you are very organised 🙂 x
I love getting that Christmas cupboard all filled up ready for the week long lock in!
What a lovely idea to make, ready for the cold winter evenings!
I’ll let you in on a secret, we have a glass or two of these after the christmas wrapping is done! Sshh!
Sounds perfect on a cold winters evening, need to make this
Oh wow, this looks and sounds delicious and perfect for winter. Yum!
Quince brandy sounds amazing! I wish quinces were available where I live in Shetland though; I’ve never tried a fresh one.
Wow! this looks and sounds incredible! I will have to try to make this soon!
Thank you, that’s kind of you.
I love all the drink recipes you post, Elinor – this is no exception! I’ve had ‘dunja rakija’ (rakija/brandy made from quinces) when I lived in Serbia but I have a feeling that yours would be so much nicer. And probably wouldn’t blow my face off! Ha ha! Have pinned, and once I’m settled in my new place, will be giving it a go. Yum!
#CookBlogShare
This sounds great. Homemade gifts can be nice at Christmas. My dad would love this I must see if I can get hold of some quinces.
This sounds great, love your photos too you really have such a skill, I’ve never had quinces!
Oh bums! Just turned all my quince into jelly….gonna have to go scrumping when it gets dark!!!
I am ashamed to say I have never heard of quince’s before. Sounds interesting
Oh my goodness! I don’t drink but honestly, this looks and sounds amazing! <3 My mum always used to grow quinces when I was a kid, but I've not had them in years! xxx
Oh my this is right up my street. I so want to try this. I have only just started flavouring my drinks and love it not sure why i havent done it before. This sounds perfect for Christmas. Thank you for sharing on #CookBlogShare Cheers!
You are welcome. We are avid drinks makers and in our enthusiasm we often forget to label them! We call it cocktail roulette!
This would be a brilliant gift for lovers of brandy! I must admit I’m feeling quite festive now! X
Not a drinker but one could see how this could be tasty….I wonder if if I replaced the brandy with Kool-Aid if it would as good?
This sounds delicious. I would never have thought of adding some to a glass of fizz.
Christmas morning present unwrapping drink of choice. It’s ok to drink a cocktail that hour, right? Elinor x
gosh I know that was 700ml ( or 70 cl) but how big was that jar? ( and could you add more quince?)
I wouldn’t add to much quince as it can be quite strong. We made our own Kir this year and it was wonderful. Happy making x