Bachelor Jam

[minoanmiss]

It's less horrifying than it sounds.

Bachelor Jam is a simple concoction. Trim, skin, seed, and cut up some ripe fruit. Put it into a jar. When the jar is full add 80-proof clear alcohol -- you can also add flavorants, sugar, salt, etc) up to the top. Lid up the jar and plunk it into the fridge. This can keep for a very long time -- a few months ago I found a jar of this that I put up over a year ago and it was delicious.

Pros: because it's a cold method the nuances of the fresh fruit flavor are preserved, and because it's slightly drying the fruit maintains a good crisp texture.

Cons: quite alcoholic. Not sutiable for kids or people who don't like/shouldn't have alcohol.

I've been experimenting to see how low the alcohol percentage can go before the preservative effect doesn't kick in, and it seems to be about 60 proof/30%.

Comments

[cmcmck]

And as you say, that's quite alcoholic! :o)

[oracne]

Sounds like something that needs a little umbrella.

[darkmarcy]

I had never heard of this :D Couldn't have it bc of the booze, but it sounds interesting!

(Though my first thought was musical one: Bachelor jam? Like, a song that is Your Jam when you're a single dude out clubbing but you won't dare to boogie to it when in a relationship, bc it's terribly sexist or something?)

[acelightning73]

One of the houses I once lived in had feral berries growing all around the property. I had my son (who was not-quite-tween-age) pick as many as he could for me. I baked raspberry pies (which I froze for future baking), I made many jars of jam (which got given as Yule gifts). And I filled a huge jar full of berries and sugar, and added a cinnamon stick, and covered the contents with Everclear grain spirit. When the berries had all turned white, I decanted and bottled the liquid, identifying it as a "summer cordial" for those moments when you think the winter is never going to end. A sip or two reminded the senses of the warmth and sweetness of summer fruit. I don't remember what the proportion of alcohol to everything else was. But it was an interesting experiment - and I don't have free berries growing outside my door any more.

[or_midnight]

I did something similar last season with mulberries at room temp, and the end result booze was amazing. I used a brandy and a vodka I believe, and they were both good. (I had so many mulberries that I just discarded them and drank the alcohol, so I don't know how well they preserved.)

Also, isn't this kind of how real maraschino cherries work? Sweetened+preserved in booze? (no answer owed if you don't have the spoons, I'm just musing.)

[minoanmiss]

I think it is how marasca cherries work, yeah. but those are much mpre syrupy. (they're also amazing)

[cellio]

I saw "bachelor jam" and wondered: is it made with real bachelors? :-) (You know, like the question I think from Adam's Family about Girl Scout cookies...)

[magid]

This sounds like one bit of confiture de vieux garcon, which has you layering fruit as it comes into season in a jar/bottle with booze and sugar. Let sit at room temp until you decide it's ready (or you're ready to eat it, whatever). I have a bottle I made, um, a bunch of years ago, and it's still fine.

[minoanmiss]

cheers