Apricot brandy is a distinctive liqueur made from fermented and distilled apricots, with a complex flavor that can be enjoyed straight or in cocktails. It can be made at home by fermenting mashed apricots with sugar and alcohol for three months.
Apricot brandy is a form of brandy made from apricots. Apricots give this liqueur a very distinctive flavor and rich amber to orange color. Particularly sweet forms of this brandy are sometimes known as apricot liqueur. This beverage can be drunk straight, used in various recipes, and added to cocktails and other mixed drinks.
Any type of fruit can potentially be fermented and distilled to make brandy, but some fruits make more flavorful and interesting drinks than others. Apricots, especially when high quality, have a faint bitter almond flavor that is tempered with a natural sweetness and complex apricot flavor. When well managed, apricot brandy can have a very rich and complex flavor that is quite distinctive.
Brandy is made by fermenting a fruit and then running the fermented liquid through a still to concentrate the flavor. To make apricot brandy, producers clean the apricots and drop them into a fermentation tank along with the skin and pits, then allow them to ferment for about three months. Once fermentation is complete, the liquid can be filtered and then distilled to make brandy. The resulting beverage has a very high alcohol content, as the water partially evaporates during the distillation process.
Like any distilled liquor, apricot brandy comes in a wide variety of styles, and the quality can vary significantly. Depending on what you intend to use the brandy for, sometimes inexpensive brands are perfectly effective, but when you plan to serve apricot brandy as a standalone drink, you may want to sample several brands and find one that is particularly high quality. You might also want to think about things you’ll pair with brandy, like cheeses or desserts.
To make a version of apricot brandy at home, you can fill a gallon jar (about four liters) with lightly mashed whole apricots and three cups of sugar. Cover this concoction with vodka or other alcohol, then put the lid back on the jar. Store the jar in a cool, dry place to ferment it, rotating it daily for three months, then strain the liquid through cheesecloth or other fine material.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
