Christmas pudding vodka

Ingredients

• 300g/10½oz mixed dried fruit (sultanas, currants, raisins)
• 75g/3oz caster sugar
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 tsp ground mixed spice
• 6 cloves
• ½ whole nutmeg, finely grated
• 1 orange, zest only, finely grated
• 1 unwaxed lemon, zest only, finely grated
• 750ml/1 pint 5fl oz bottle good quality vodka

Method

1. Mix the dried fruit with the sugar, cinnamon sticks, mixed spice, cloves, grated nutmeg and citrus zest in a large bowl.

2. Pour over the vodka, and cover tightly with cling film.

3. Place in the fridge and leave for 3 days, stirring once each day.

4. Line a sieve with a double layer of fine muslin and place over a large, clean jug.

5. Pour the dried fruit and vodka mixture into the sieve and allow to drip through into the jug.

6. Pour into a sterilized bottle.

Tips

To sterilise a bottle, wash it well and put it on its side on a clean baking sheet in the oven, preheated to 160C/325F/Gas 3, for 10 minutes.