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Here’s a couple of drink ideas using some very readily available local produce – blackberries and our old friend the courgette!

Firstly here’s one for blackberries of which masses can be found by the lanes and paths around the area. This requires nothing but a bottle of vodka, blackberries and sugar.

Blackberry Vodka

Ingredients

• 70cl Bottle of vodka
• 100 gram of sugar
• Blackberries

Method

• First remove 1/3 of the bottle of vodka and have a sit down 😂👍
• Add the sugar to the remaining vodka in the bottle
• Wash and dry blackberries and add to the bottle till it’s full
• Put the top on the bottle, give it a good shake and put in a cool dark cupboard
• Give it a shake one a week
• After a few weeks have a taste and add a bit more sugar if you think it needs it
• Should be ready to drink after 3 or 4 months. You’ll need to strain it through muslin or similar and store in a clean bottle

Try other fruit such as damsons and alcoholes such as brandy

And now the answer to that scourge of the vegetable plot – the forgotten courgettes

Courgette martini

Ingredients

• 1 courgette, coarsely grated
• juice 2 lemons
• 2 tbsp caster sugar
• 25ml vermouth
• 50ml gin
• ice
• mint to garnish

Method

• Mix the courgette with the lemon juice and sugar and leave to steep for 1 hr. In the meantime, place a martini glass in the fridge to chill.
• Strain the courgette mixture through a sieve into a jug.
• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice then add 25ml of the courgette syrup followed by the vermouth and gin.
• Stir gently a few times then strain into your chilled glass. Garnish with a mint leaf and serve.

Enjoy!

Mich x