Kiev: Cranberry Vodka Worth the Walk in the Cold
image from lonelyplanet.com
Walking to find the Хатинка restaurant, we doubted more than once whether we were in a safe neighbourhood as we walked through deserted rubble strewn streets. Then we would see a woman walking with a child and we knew that we should stop worrying. Nevertheless, we hurried on through the cold to get the the cosy restaurant and delicious food. They served several kinds of vodka, but we tried both the cranberry and one called "7 herbs to cure 7 illnesses".
Sabrina toasting with the 7 herb vodka
This berry flavoured vodka is a ideal aperitif for a Ukranian meal. You can use the same technique with any other berries or fruit that you have. Besides cranberry, I have used gooseberries (both white and red), fresh currants, and blueberries.
Makes enough for 30-40 shots.
Ingredients:
- 3 kg (6 lb 10 oz) cranberries
- 2 kg (4 lb 7 oz) superfine sugar
- 1 liter good quality vodka
Directions:
- Put all the berries in a large glass jar and stir in the sugar, combining the two ingredients and mashing the berries and breaking the skins.
- Cover with a clean cloth or loose cap and leave for a week.
- After a week, add the vodka to the jar. Mix well then leave to settle for a day.
- Sieve through a strainer into a pitcher and use a funnel to pour into a bottle.
