Homemade liqueur with mandarines

Another home made liqueur to treat your guests or to offer as a gift during the Festive season and something to enjoy all year round

Recipe of Argyro Barbarigou,

a prominent Head Cook

Check out her site Argiro for more Festive recipes

 

Ingredients:
10 mandarins, ripe but firm (not satsumas or clementines)
10 whole cloves
700ml cognac (brandy)
1½ tea-cup of sugar
1½ tea-cup of water


Method:
Wash the mandarines very well and make sure they are not bruised. Prick them with a fork many times in various spots all around.

Stick one whole clove on each mandarine and place them in a large airtight jar.

Cover the mandarines with the cognac and carefully seal the jar. Leave the jar to stand for at least 3 weeks.

When the time is up put the sugar and the water in a small saucepan and let them boil gently for 2-3 minutes. Leave the syrup to cool down completely.

Strain the alcohol off the jar and add it in the saucepan with the cold syrup, stirring it well. Strain the liqueur in a very fine sieve, put it a glass airtight bottle and carefully seal.

Leave the liqueur to stand for 2 weeks and then keep it in the fridge so to serve it chilled.