In the USSR, this tincture was sold in stores and was very popular. Several Russian companies tried to revive the legendary recipe, but their attempts were unsuccessful – the drink turned out to be not as tasty as it was before. It’s all about artificial flavors. We will go the other way – we will make a tincture of mountain ash on cognac at home using traditional Soviet technology from natural raw materials.
You can use red or chokeberry (necessarily ripe, without rot and mold), but it is better not to mix berries of different varieties, but to prepare two drinks. Cognac variants are softer than similar vodka varieties and are easy to drink, while the beneficial properties of the berries are preserved. Vodka tinctures are more suitable for medicinal purposes, cognac – for a pleasant pastime in the circle of loved ones.
Ingredients:
- rowan berries – 300 grams;
- cognac – 0,5 liters;
- sugar (honey) – 30-50 grams;
- vanillin – 5 grams (optional).
Recipe for rowan on cognac
1. Sorted, washed and dried rowan berries are crushed with a wooden rolling pin so that they release juice.
2. In a frying pan over low heat, fry the sugar until brown, stirring constantly. Honey does not need to be heated.
3. Place the mountain ash in a glass container, add sugar (honey), pour cognac. Cognac should cover the layer of berries by at least 2-3 cm, add more if necessary.
4. Close the container with a lid, shake several times to mix all the ingredients.
5. Infuse rowanberry for 1 month in a dark, cool room, shake off once a week.
6. Strain the finished tincture through cheesecloth (squeeze the berry mass well) and filter through cotton wool to remove turbidity.
7. If desired, add vanillin and mix, a piquant note will appear, the main thing is not to overdo it.
8. Pour the drink into glass bottles, close tightly. Shelf life – up to 3 years. Fortress – 33-35%.
The choice of shop tinctures of cognac on mountain ash should be approached very carefully. A chemical flavor appeared on the free market, allowing you to make an imitation from low-quality raw materials. More on video.