Adventure 28: A healthy heart and a wet mouth

'Of all the money that 'ere I had,

I spent it in good company,

And all the harm, I ever done, 

I swear twas done to none but me,

And all I've done for want of wit,

To my mind I can't recall,

So fill me to the Parting Glass,

Goodnight and God be with you all!'

- Traditional Irish/Scottish

A typical Wednesday evening after a busy day at work. Friday still seems far away...

In the depths of winter, nowt much grows - sad but true - which has meant that posts over the last few months have had more on beer (because pubs are warm) and less on foraging. This does not mean that I have not been busy behind the scenes, and I am now proud to announce that my home brew collection is now complete and ready to be drunk (party anyone?). After months of tasting, prodding, shaking, swishing and waiting I now have seven (yes, seven!) different types of alcohol available at Bar Roach which I'd like to share! They're all quite different from one another in appearance and taste, but what they all have in common is that they are made from things I've foraged on my walks last autumn, and taste better than things in the supermarket. Please take a moment to read through, and decide which one(s) you think I should consider entering into the Fat Pig's Home Brew competition next month. 

FRUIT LIQUEURS

Pear Liqueur

Made from: Sugar, Wild Pears picked in Topsham, ginger, cinnamon, vodka

Appearance: light golden with bubbles

Smell: like Pear drops

Taste: very sweet and pear droppy, can't really taste the vodka at all

Cherry Liqueur

Made from: American Black Cherries picked in Exeter University's Botanical Garden, sugar, cinnamon sticks and vodka

Appearance: dark purple/black, gloopy

Smell: cherry medicine

Taste: got a kick to it, rich, bittersweet version of creme de cassis

HAWTHORN PRODUCE

Hawthorn Schnapps

Made from: Haws and vodka

Appearance: murky brown (N.B. supposed to be medicinal)

Smell: fresh, woody

Taste: earthy

ROSEHIP PRODUCE

Rosehip Brandy Liqueur

Made from: Rosehips, brown sugar, cloves, cinnamon and brandy

Appearance: reddy brown

Smell: Christmassy

Taste: sweet, rich, like Lebkuchen

Rosehip Schnapps

Made from: Rosehips and vodka

Appearance: golden red

Smell: fruity

Taste: tangy fruity vodka

SLOE PRODUCE

Sloe Sherry

Made from: Gin infused sloes, sugar, sweet sherry 

Appearance: deep brown

Smell: sweet

Taste: sherry with a bitter fruity kick

Bullace Gin 

(here mixed with tonic)

Made from: Bullace, sugar, gin

Appearance: pink

Smell: sweet and expressive

Taste: sweet but tart

On a last note, I would like to congratulate my friend, Nolita, on the safe arrival of baby Noah, and my best friend (her sister) Rebecca on becoming an auntie for the first time (boy, that little maneen is going to get spoilt). Happy St. Patrick's Day tomorrow to all of you - I don't think Levi and I will be short of booze at any rate. 

Seo sláinte an tséitéara, an ghadaí, an trodaí, agus an óltóra!
Má dhéanann tu séitéireacht, go ndéana tú séitéireacht ar an mbás,
Má ghoideann tú, go ngoide tú croí mná;
Má throideann tú, go dtroide tú i leith do bhráthar,
Agus má ólann tú, go n-óla tú liom féin.


If you cheat, may you cheat death.
If you steal, may you steal a woman's heart.
If you fight, may you fight for a brother.
And if you drink, may you drink with me.