Blackberry Gin

Can a more profound and intimate relationship with our food be had than to be seen foraging in prickly brambles on the side of our roads?
A gentle introduction into to the world of wild foods is to pick the first blackberries of the season along the many uncultivated hedgrows and bushes around the country.
Once you become a nibbler of all things wild the temptation to become a full-time gatherer might be too hard to resist particularly when late summer and autumn promise such rich pickings.
This Blackberry Gin was inspired by Pam Corbin's Sloe Gin recipe in the River Cottage preserves handbook.

ingredients

1kg Blackberries
900mls gin
450 sugar

Tumble the freshly picked blackberries into a large glass container or jar, pour over the gin and add the sugar. Stir the ingredients together and leave for the next month and a half to two months. Taste, and once the blackberries have instilled their flavour its ready. Strain the blackberry and gin mixture through a fine sieve. Pour the liqueur in sterilised bottles.

Ken Doherty is a chef and journalist.