English Apricot Liqueur

By
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm is a renowned British food writer, classically trained chef, teacher, and author with over 25 years of experience writing about British food and cooking.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 01/23/24
English apricot liqueur recipe

The Spruce Eats / Zorica Lakonic

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 10 servings

The season for fresh apricots is short and one way of extending the enjoyment of these wonderful fruits is in this apricot liqueur recipe. The liqueur is so simple to make and come the dark winter months when you open the bottle, you'll be so glad you did. The liqueur is ready after a month, but is best kept for several so the flavors can blend and meld.

You'll need muslin or a good sieve for this recipe.

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons ground cloves

  • 2 teaspoons ground allspice

  • 2 teaspoons freshly grated nutmeg

  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger

  • 18 ounces (500 grams) apricots, halved and kernels set aside

  • 2 1/2 cups (500 grams) sugar

  • 1 liter white wine

  • 20 ounces (600 milliliters) good-quality gin

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for apricot liqueur

    The Spruce Eats / Zorica Lakonic

  2. Combine the ground cloves, allspice, nutmeg, and ginger to create the spice mix.

    Combine all spice and ground cloves

    The Spruce Eats / Zorica Lakonic

  3. Put the apricots into a jam pan. Add about 2 tablespoons of the spice mix and stir well.

    Put apricot in pot

    The Spruce Eats / Zorica Lakonic

  4. Add the sugar and the wine and stir again.

    Add sugar and wine

    The Spruce Eats / Zorica Lakonic

  5. Bring to the boil, frequently stirring until the sugar is dissolved.

    Stir

    The Spruce Eats / Zorica Lakonic

  6. Remove from the heat and add the gin.

    Remove from heat

    The Spruce Eats / Zorica Lakonic

  7. Crack open apricot kernel from the center. Remove the skin on the kernel, then add to the apricots.

    Crack open apricot kernel

    The Spruce Eats / Zorica Lakonic

  8. Cover the pan entirely and set aside for five days.

  9. Sterilize and dry 2 or 3 wine or screwcap bottles.

    Wipe bottles

    The Spruce Eats / Zorica Lakonic

  10. Pass the apricot mixture through a fine sieve or a piece of muslin into a large bowl, keeping the apricots. Press the mixture well to remove as much juice as possible.

    Press down apricots

    The Spruce Eats / Zorica Lakonic

  11. Pour the liquid into the bottles, close, and label.

    Pour liquid in bottles

    The Spruce Eats / Zorica Lakonic

  12. Wait for the minimum of one month before opening, but as with all liqueurs, it will improve the longer it sits.

    Label bottles

    The Spruce Eats / Zorica Lakonic

Tip

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
437 Calories
0g Fat
60g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 10
Amount per serving
Calories 437
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 8mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 60g 22%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 57g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 5mg 26%
Calcium 21mg 2%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 215mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)