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The Grappa Report

Star Anise, Cinnamon, Blueberry
Once upon a time, we made Limoncello. We used straight-grain alcohol (which we had to buy in a different state because it was not sold it ours!). It was firewater. We tried to pawn it off on unsuspecting friends and relatives. It did not work.

So when friends of ours said they wanted to share some Grappa that they had received from a friend, I was slightly suspicious. It was a little firewater-ish but not as much as the Limoncello.

We decided to try to infuse it with some flavors - star anise, cinnamon, and blueberry. We got mixed results:

  • Star Anise - was the most successful. It mellowed its sharpness. 
  • Cinnamon - We left the cinnamon in for about a week. I think it was too long. It left a very woody taste. Perhaps, less infusion time would have given a better result.
  • Blueberry - We thought if we mashed the blueberries, they would make the Grappa murky. So we first put them in whole. Nothing happened. We then cut them in half. Then the Grappa began to color a pretty shade. The blueberries went white-ish. But alas, the flavor was rather lacking. I don't think blueberries have a strong enough flavor.
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