Homemade Cordials

cjc15153 · Post by **cjc15153** » Mon Nov 26, 2012 6:44 pm

Given that 4711 started as medicine, and how many of you guys have made your own bay rum, I have to think some of you have made your own liqueur.

Yesterday I took:
About 50 leaves of Bay Laurel (not Pimenta racemosa bay)
Zest of 1 lemon
and a cinnamon stick
put them in a jar and dumped 750ml of 151 proof Everclear on them.

When sugar and water and some time are added, I will have Bay Laurel Liqueur or Laurino. People on the internet say it tastes like Chartreuse. Other people on the internet say it takes like toothpaste. Many years ago I made (essentially) a peppermint vodka which also tasted like toothpaste. We'll see if I'm 2 for 2.

What else should I try, or what do you like now that the weather is cooling?

Kyle76 · Post by **Kyle76** » Mon Nov 26, 2012 6:57 pm

Since you have toothpaste down, why don't you try for Listerine?

cjc15153 · Post by **cjc15153** » Tue Nov 27, 2012 9:56 am

I'd prefer my efforts not taste like prophylaxis of any sort. This may be a challenge though, because real Chartreuse has over 100 herbs, so I don't doubt that there is some overlap between the monk's recipe and Trader Joe's all natural toothpaste.

desertbadger · Post by **desertbadger** » Tue Nov 27, 2012 10:20 pm

Kyle76 wrote:Since you have toothpaste down, why don't you try for Listerine?

Regards,
David

Squire · Post by **Squire** » Wed Nov 28, 2012 8:22 pm

Sounds like an idea I'd hatch while sampling an earlier experiment.

Reverend Jim · Post by **Reverend Jim** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 8:36 pm

My goodness! I used to have this recipe for home made Kalua (sp?) using vodka and instant coffee that was really pretty good. I must look for it.

cjc15153 · Post by **cjc15153** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 7:26 pm

After several samplings:
It does not taste like any kind of hygiene product, which is a relief. It is sweet from the sugar and tastes vaguely herbal. Oddly, it suggest cloves more than bay leaves, cinnamon or lemon (the actual ingredients). It has lost a bit of it's harshness since I first bottled it, but it is around 90° and not trying to fool anyone.

ShadowsDad · Post by **ShadowsDad** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 9:19 pm

My brother makes his own cordials from fruit that he picks in season, strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, blueberries, I don't know what else. They are mighty good.

He's trained me in the art of consuming them, I don't know anything about making them.

cjc15153 · Post by **cjc15153** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 10:18 pm

I think of cordials as fruit, and liqueur as herbs, etc. Wikipedia uses them interchangably. I have some frozen rhubarb that I may experiment on.

I'm a bit surprised you never tried your hand at it. Kramper's Finest comes in a flask for gosh sake!

ShadowsDad · Post by **ShadowsDad** » Wed Feb 13, 2013 6:05 pm

I have a brother who supplies me, why would I need to? Flasks I have plenty of, time I have little.

I used to brew my own (fantastic I might add) beer. I no longer have the time for that either. I need to clone myself.