DIY Plum Ratafia

• 2 cupschopped plums
• 2(750 ml.) bottles red wine
• 2⁄3 cup sugar
• 1⁄2 cup brandy

Preparation

1. 1.

   Roughly chop the plums and put them in a half-gallon jar with a tight-sealing lid. Include the pits for extra flavor.

2. 2.

   Combine the wine, sugar and brandy in a large bowl and whisk to dissolve the sugar. (See tip about adding additional flavors and spices, if desired.)

3. 3.

   Pour the liquid into the half- gallon jar and shake to combine. Put the jar in the refrigerator and let the mixture steep for 2 to 3 weeks, shaking it once a day.

4. 4.

   Strain out the solids using a mesh strainer or a colander lined with cheesecloth. The boozy fruit can be reserved for another use, such as jam.

5. 5.

   Use a funnel to bottle the finished ratafia for storage. It will keep in the refrigerator for several months.

6. 6.

   Tip: Ratafia offers a more-or-less blank canvas for flavor experimentation. Many recipes call for the addition of ingredients like citrus peel and juice, spices like cinnamon, star anise and nutmeg, or even herbs like lovage, mint or sage. Increase the sugar to create more of a cordial- style beverage, or dial it back for a drier aperitif—it’s all to taste.