Walnut Spirit
Servings: 7 Litters
Calories: 125kcal
Cost: $49
Vin de noix
Print Recipe
Equipment
- 1 8-9 liter carboy/demijohn made from glass only
- 14 50 cl glass bottles and corks
- 1 Stockpot
- 2 Large buckets
- 1 Whisk
- 2 bowls
- 1 Fennel
- 1 chinois
- 1 Cheesecloth
- 1 Scissors
- 1 Hammer
- 1 Disposable gloves
Ingredients
Walnut Mixture
- 6500 ml Use Chardonnay or red wine
- 1000 g Vodka/eau de vie
- 500 g Walnut leaves cut into strips
- 400 g Green walnuts crushed
- 15 g Red cinchona bark
- 6 ea. Cloves
- 10 g Cinnamon
- 1 g Nutmeg
- 10 g Vanilla bean seeds and pods or use saved dry pods
- 10 g Lemon zest
- 5 ea. Star anis crushed
To Add After Maturation
- 900 g White sugar
Instructions
Walnut Mise-En-Place
- Walnuts and leaves can be picked for free along the edges of countryside roads and forest on St. John's Day, June 24 through end of July. Fill up the sink with lukewarm water, and soak in whole leaves and walnuts. Next, drain and spread leaves and walnuts on an outdoor table lined with a couple of layers of newspapers.
- Cut walnut leaves into small pieces and reserve in a large bucket.
- Since walnuts fruits stain, you may want to wear gloves. Proceed and wrap green walnuts (a few at the time) in a used kitchen towel or crush using freezer bag.
- Stuff carboy with the spices first, followed by the crushed walnuts, leaves and then the alcohols (no sugar). Seal carboy with a cork, shake it and place in a cool and dark place.
Maturation
- Allow walnut mixture to mature for an extended period of time, typically around 6 months or even longer. This process, known as aging or resting, is crucial for enhancing the flavors and aromas of the mixture. The magic happens as the flavors in the walnut mixture meld together over time, creating a harmonious balance that cannot be rushed. One important step during the resting period is gently shaking the carboy or container that holds the walnut mixture. This helps to evenly distribute the flavors and ensure that every component is given the opportunity to interact and infuse into the mixture.
After Six Months
- Over a large pot, pass walnut flavored liquid through a chinois lined with a cheesecloth. Add sugar and stir with a whisk every so often until sugar is dissolved. Let stand for an hour allowing sugar to dissolve. To clean the carboy, use a garden hose and a curved iron rod to remove solids.
Bottling
- Fill up bottles and seal with corks. Label bottles if desired.
How To Store Walnut Spirit
- Unlike wine, spirit/liquor should be stored upright. Walnut spirit can be kept in a dark and cool place for several years. Allow to rest a month at least before drinking. The longer it ages the better. Alors, à l'apéro!
Nutrition
Serving: 50ml | Calories: 125kcal