Homemade Spiced Blackberry Brandy (Vargas and Gulling) Recipe

From Cordials From Your Kitchen by Pattie Vargas and Rich Gulling:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 pound fresh blackberries, picked over and washed
• 1 teaspoon fruit protector*
• 1 fifth brandy
• 1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

* I've never seen or used fruit protector, but I understand it's a common enough substance to find in grocery stores and cooking stores. It's probably just ascorbic acid or some other natural antioxidant.

Boil sugar and water together, cool. Crush berries in bowl, add fruit protector, stand 2 hours. Mix all ingredients together in aging container, age in dark place for 1 month. Strain and filter, age 1 to 3 months.