Bermuda Boys Loquat Liquor

During the winter of 2011 we had a visit from Ron and Sally Boys traveling in their 5er from FL.  They called themselves the Bermuda Boys because they lived in Bermuda for a time.  Because our yard had a soon to bloom loquat tree we got to talking about a recipe they concocted for Loquat Liquor. 

First, what's a loquat?  This unusual fruit grows in semi-tropical climates and has evergreen foliage in most places.  For years I would just use this fruit by plucking it straight from the tree, biting off a piece, sucking out the seeds, spitting them out, then savoring the remaining sweet, tangy flavor of the inner flesh.  If eaten early during the season the skins are tender and easily palatable but late in the season the skins tend to be a bit more tough so many prefer to just suck out the flesh and discard the skins. To me the fruit is similar to an apricot.


The seeds, like several other fruit seeds, have a small amount of arsenic in them but they are used by many to make liquors that are reputed to taste like amaretto, an almond based drink.  I've not seen these fruits in stores anywhere I've lived but understand they can be found in specialty stores or in places where they grow plentifully.

Our April harvest was a bumper crop just waiting to be tried in the liquor.

So without further ado, here is the famous Bermuda Boys Loquat Liquor Recipe (they told me I could share):

• Glass Bottle (I used a gallon pickle jar) 
• equal parts of Vodka and sugar (rock sugar is best but I just used regular sugar)
• washed loquats with the seeds in

That's it.  Make sure that the vodka sugar mixture covers the fruit.  Let this mixture sit, covered and in the dark for 6 months.  Take off the liquid and bottle.

There was one last instruction from Sally.  "Sit down before you sample this."  She also suggested dipping the "pickled" loquats in chocolate for a special treat.

I put mine up in early April and will be "uncorking" the jar in October and will follow with an update.

UPDATE:  OM Goodness.  This liquor has no taste what so ever of a heady liquor but only the sweetness of it's fruit base and a bit of an after result, a euphoric lightness of mood.  If you stop by the registration house,  I'll be glad to share.

Teri Blaschke is the RV Park operator of family owned HiddenValley RV Park in San Antonio, TX and writer of the park blog “A Little Piece of Country in San Antonio.” Teri contributes to various other blogs with a focus on either travel or social media and how it relates to the outdoor hospitality industry but her passion is serving the RV travel community by providing a memorable RV camping experience and growing the Hidden Valley RV family.  Connect with Teri on Google+, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter@HiddenValleyRV and our RV Country Daily Magazine and don't forget to Say hello to the voice of Hidden Valley