Brandy (Fruit Jack)
Ingredients:
10 cups of fruit, you choose, plums, peaches, what have you. Strawberries don't work so well.
3 gallons water
10 pounds of sugar
3 lemons
3 packs yeast (Champagne yeast will give you about 40 proof)
4 lbs raisins
(white if light colored fruit, dark if dark fruit)
Preparation:
Cut up the fruit and remove pits. Place into crock with the water, sugar and lemons.
Dissolve the sugar with LOTS of stirring.
If you used warm water let it cool to room temperature (this takes hours, be patient)
Add the yeast, and stir in. Cover with a board or old t-shirt to keep flies out.
Stir every day for 7 days.
On the 8th day add the raisins.
No more stirring.
Let work 21 days.
Strain through fine cheese-clothe or muslin.
It'll take a few 4+ weeks to finish off.
Taste it, you'll know when it is ready.
Submitted by Fred_Dwyer