Make this with fresh berries, but it does work just as well with frozen . The colour is a really deep purple and it tastes delicious. This would make an ideal homemade Christmas present.

Ingredients

Serves: 8

 750ml vodka - best you can afford

 450g fresh (or frozen) blackberries

 600g caster sugar

 250ml water

Preparation method

Prep: 30 mins - plus a few weeks!!

1. Add the sugar and water to a pan and heat slowly until

all the sugar has dissolved.

Allow to cool to room temperature  

    

2. Now pour the vodka into a large, clean glass container or decanter. Add the sugar syrup and the blackberries, taking care not to crush the berries. Cover with cling film and leave to infuse for at least 2 weeks. You can give it a stir every couple of days, but don't go wild and crush the fruit.  

    

3. After 2 weeks, strain the drink through a fine muslin or cloth into bottles - 1 large or a couple of small. Resist the temptation to drink it right away, but leave it to sit for another couple of week if you can. Makes approx 1 litre.