Deliciously fruity, tart but not too sweet, this Mirabelle plum vodka is great in cocktails, served over ice with soda water or simply sipped straight.
Recently I was lamenting the lost fig trees of my childhood - oh, how I loved my grandmothers’ trees and their sweet summer fruit! – and the very next day, providence shined upon me, bringing me not figs, but free Mirabelle plums.
I had fixed some snacky food and packed a bottle of cold water in a small cooler so that my husband and I could explore this beautiful island we are blessed to have a home in. We had in mind a public picnic area on the east coast we had spotted last summer.
As we parked the car then gathered out belongings, I noticed that the ground was covered in little round jewels of varying hues from yellow to orange and red. I glanced up and there was a Mirabelle plum tree, covered in extra vines but full of fruit, much of it still green.
I filled a small bag with the bounty, practically giggling with glee. Who doesn’t love some free fruit?
With the first pound of plums, I made a delightful small batch of jam, just two jars. With the balance, I decided to make flavored vodka.
Mirabelle Plum Vodka
If you don’t have little Mirabelles, you can use another variety of plums but I would recommend cutting them in half or quarters to infuse. I covered the plums plus a little extra with just over a cup of vodka. Depending on the jar you use, you may need a little more or even a little less.
Ingredients
7 oz or 200g Mirabelle plums
8.45 fl. oz or 250ml vodka
3-4 tablespoons sugar (I used golden caster but everyday sugar will do.)
TIME
Method
Wash and dry the plums, making sure to discard any that are mushy. Put them in a jar with a tight seal then pour in the vodka to cover.
Store in a cool, dark place for at least four weeks. Or longer, if you have the time. Mine infused for six weeks. I put it in the window for the photos to make it easier to see the color change in the vodka.
Once your infusion time is up, add three tablespoons of the sugar to a mixing bowl. Strain the plums through a sieve on top of the sugar bowl so the vodka goes into the bowl.
Gently press the plums just enough to make them split but do not mash them too hard. We don’t want bits in the vodka, just any vodka juice that may be inside the plums to drain out.
Stir the vodka until the sugar has dissolved then taste it. Add a little more sugar, if desired. I added about half of the final tablespoon, so 3 1/2 tablespoons total.
Decant the Mirabelle plum vodka into a clean, sterilized bottle. My final volume was 11 oz or 325ml.
This makes a most delightfully refreshing drink, tart and not too sweet, to sip straight, or with ice and soda.
Welcome to the 22th edition of Alphabet Challenge 2025, brought to you by the letter V. Many thanks to Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm for organizing and creating the challenge. Check out all the V recipes below:
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