Homemade Beech Liqueur (Veenstra) Recipe

From correspondent Ben Veenstra:

• Gin
• Beech-leafs (young leafs)
• Sugar
• Boiling water (1/4l for every 500g sugar)
• Brandy

1. Fill a stone or glass pot for 9/10 with the young beech-leafs (use only the very young ones, and clean them by washing with plain water)
2. Fill the pot with Gin.
3. Let the closed pot rest for aprox. 2 weeks, at this time the gin is green and smelling a bit like beech.
4. after two weeks filter the Gin so no leafs (or parts) remain in the Gin
5. Add 500 grams sugar (for every ½ litres of Gin you used on the leafs), which is dissolved in a ¼ litre of boiling water. (add a little brandy for an extra flavour). If you want the liqueur more syrupy add more sugar.
6. mix it well and after it has cooled, bottle it.

Result: a very nice and lovely liqueur which show resemblance to the Japanese Sake.