Imbued with the flavour of juicy, ripe plums, this brandy liqueur makes a delightful ending for a feast inspired by the region of Gondor from Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.
A Feast in Gondor – Inspired by The Lord of the Rings
Let us travel to Middle Earth, down the Anduin River, for a lavish feast in Gondor. A feast in the great southern kingdom of men is imbued with the splendour of a realm rich in history and majesty. To create recipes worthy of the Great Hall of Feasts in the White City of Kings, we take inspiration from Tolkien’s own imagined ideas of Gondor, the different geographical regions of Gondor, and the influence of Minas Tirith as an urban center.
The Flowering Orchards of Lossarnach
South west of Minas Tirith, at the base of the White Mountains, lies the region of Lossarnach. With its many valleys of fertile land, Lossarnach is famed for its flowering blossoms and fruit orchards. The warm weather of Gondor ensures an abundance of ripe orchard fruits to feed the people of Minas Tirith. These delightful fruits likely would have been used for more than mere snacking or cooking and brewed into fruity wines or brandies. Imbued with the flavour of juicy, ripe plums, this brandy liqueur is delightful as an after dinner tipple.
Ingredients
Plums: Any kind of fresh plum will work here. I used red plums which give a gorgeous colour to the liqueur.
Brandy: This plum liqueur is made with a base of brandy. Made from distilled wine, brandy has an alcohol content of between 35 to 60%. Choose a non-expensive brandy, such as St. Remy VSOP.
Vodka: Any good quality, unflavoured vodka can be used. I like using a blend of brandy and vodka but you could omit the vodka and use only brandy if you prefer.
How to Make Plum Brandy Liqueur
Prep the brandy
Cut the plums in half and discard the pits. Add the plums to a 1 litre canning jar. Top with the sugar and add the brandy and vodka. Screw a lid on the jar and shake it gently a few times to distribute the liquid around the fruit and sugar.
Steep the brandy
Let the brandy steep for 3 weeks in a cool place. Each day for the first few days, flip the jar back and forth a few times to encourage the sugar to dissolve. Once the sugar has dissolved, you can give the jar a gentle shake every couple of days until it has finished steeping.
Serve the Plum Brandy
After steeping, strain the brandy and discard the fruit. Store the brandy in the fridge where it will keep for a few months. The plum brandy can be served chilled as a digestif after a meal or used in place of regular brandy. Enjoy!
