For me, nothing evokes the joy of Christmas like the smell of a Christmas tree…
Well, the smell of a Christmas tree and the smell of the Christmas box that stores my parents’ decorations for eleven months of the year, though I haven’t worked out how to bottle that yet).
The easiest way to capture aroma in a drink is to create a tincture – an alcoholic extract of a plant, or an intense and high (80-100% proof) alcohol infusion.
So once you’ve purchased your Christmas tree, relieve it of one good-sized branch and reach for the high proof vodka:
- Combine 60ml vodka and add a handful of Christmas tree needles in a small jar.
- Cover and infuse for 3-4 days.
- Remove the needles and bottle the tincture in an atomiser.
The finished tincture can be used to rinse glasses or glass stems or as a light spritz over the top of a finished drink – don’t over do it though, too much pine can be poisonous!
Clear Creek Distillery makes a Doug fir eau de vie, if you prefer to drink your Christmas tree.
Oh really?! Will have to see if I can get that in the UK.