Homemade Strawberry (Ellestad) Recipe

From correspondent Erik Ellestad

I recently tried a Strawberry Liqueur I made this spring and thought it turned out really well. Very smooth and not too sweet.

I had about 3 or 4 pints of strawberries and as I washed them and cut them, I put them layer by layer into a 1.5 L jar. I added about 1/3 c sugar per layer. When I had the jar most of the way full of strawberries and sugar, I filled it close to the top with 80 proof vodka. Steeped for about 3 weeks, then filtered and rested. I ended up with probably 3/4 liter of liqueur.

I based it on the recipe below, though probably used more strawberries, less sugar, and less vodka. Another factor might have been the strawberries. They smelled great; but, were early season and a little acidic and watery thanks to all the rain we got this spring.

http://www.aspoonfulofsugar.net/blog/2004/06/strawberry_liqueur_the_beginning.html