Blackberry vodka

Try this easy-to-make blackberry vodka liqueur in a cocktail. Drinkable for up to a year, it's a great way to use a pile of freshly picked berries

Ingredients

• 300 g blackberries (fresh or frozen)
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 bay leaf
• 150 g golden caster sugar
• 700 ml vodka

Steps

1. Tip the blackberries, cinnamon stick, bay leaf and sugar into a large sterilised jar. Pour over the vodka, seal the jar and swirl around to dissolve the sugar. Store in a cool, dark place and turn the jar once a day for the first week.
2. After two to three weeks, strain the vodka through a fine mesh sieve (see tip, below) and decant into bottles, then label. It will keep its colour for a few months, and will be drinkable for up to a year. Use the infused blackberries in bakes or meringue-based desserts.