Scotch Marmalade or Homemade Spiced Whisky

Scotch Marmalade or Homemade Spiced Whisky

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Andrew has been wanting to try “Scotch Marmalade” ever since he saw a piece about home-brew infusions in Report on Business back in September. He clipped the article, bought a bottle of inexpensive Whyte & Mackay, handed both to me and asked, “What’s star anise and do we have any?”

The scotch got put away, the spices went into the cupboard and we forgot all about this little experiment — until Monday when my friend Sheila dropped off some mason jars and jogged our memories.

After six months of dithering, it took all of five minutes to assemble. All that’s left to do now is sit back and let the spices work their magic over the next two to three weeks. Sounds perfect, no?

Already I’m leery. The magazine shot shows a perfectly backlit jar of soft yellow scotch, with strands of orange peel coiled into neat swirls and spices dispersed evenly throughout the suspension. A star anise floats facing the camera, showing off its six perfect points. The orange peel wraps gently around the cinnamon stick and vanilla pod.

My version? The orange peel sank to the bottom like the Titanic and the star anise bobbed at the surface like dead fish. Would you drink this?

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I’m not sure if the jar’s imprint will prove to be ironic or clairvoyant, but I guess we’ll find out in a April.

Anyone tried this sort of thing? How’d it turn out?

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  • danamccauley
    Posted at 13:46h, 25 March

    I’d totally drink it – but I’m not that discerning when it comes to booze.

    I know hard core scotch drinkers will scoff at me, but I bet this will be great in a Manhattan.

  • Anonymous
    Posted at 18:37h, 25 March

    Put it on chicken and cook it – so who cares how the jar looked before you opened it.
    Love.
    Robin

  • The Diva on a Diet
    Posted at 18:43h, 25 March

    Are you kidding, I’d drink it right now … as is! But then again I love anything to do with scotch. I’d love to try this myself and will be *most* eager to see how your experiment turns out. I think its going to be spectacular!

  • The Diva on a Diet
    Posted at 18:43h, 25 March

    Are you kidding, I’d drink it right now … as is! But then again I love anything to do with scotch. I’d love to try this myself and will be *most* eager to see how your experiment turns out. I think its going to be spectacular!

  • amyproulx
    Posted at 22:08h, 25 March

    Haven’t done scotch, but this past summer we did a quart of damson plums in a bottle of gin, hid in the closet till winter. Sweetened up a little, it was splendid Christmas drinking. The plums, minced down and sweetened, made a potent preserve. Yum.

  • Elyse
    Posted at 00:47h, 26 March

    I think it sounds like a great experiment! I can’t wait to see how it turns out, and hey, I wouldn’t turn down a taste!

  • Christie's Corner
    Posted at 11:14h, 26 March

    Robin, I will NOT be cooking it into chicken. And you would care if you saw the jar. It looks like it belongs on the shelf of a mad scientist. Scary stuff.

    Diva, I’ll keep you posted. Andrew is the scotch fan here, but I think this might appeal to me more since I’m into the spicy scotches and he likes his smokey and full of peat.

    Amy, that sounds amazing! My mom used to do that with raspberries. I must try more fruit infusions this summer.

    Elyse, it’s times like this the Internet falls miserably short. I can send out photos, text, sound and even moving images, but I have yet to be able to send a bite or a sip through cyberspace. Sigh…

  • The Diva on a Diet
    Posted at 14:03h, 15 April

    Just wondering if you’ve tried the scotch yet … or is it still curing? I’m getting thirsty! ๐Ÿ˜‰

  • The Diva on a Diet
    Posted at 14:03h, 15 April

    Just wondering if you’ve tried the scotch yet … or is it still curing? I’m getting thirsty! ๐Ÿ˜‰

  • Christie's Corner
    Posted at 23:09h, 15 April

    Diva, we are planning to sample it this weekend. We’ll definitely post a follow up once the verdict is in.