Beech Leaf Noyau
This is a traditional British recipe for a classic cocktail mixer made from gin flavoured with sugar, brandy and young beech leaves that makes an excellent mixer and can even be drunk by itself over ice. A noyau is a cordial made from brandy, gin, cognac etc and which is flavoured with a bittering agent, typically bitter almonds or peach pits. This is a classic British version, using young beech leaves.
Ingredients: 1 bottle of gin (700ml)
225g white sugar
200ml brandy
400ml young beech leaves
Beech Leaf Noyau Preparation:
Method: Only use very young beech leaves, freshly stripped from the stem. Add these to a bottle or glass jar (with a secure lid) until the vessel is half full. Add the bottle of gin then stopper the jar and store for 3 weeks before straining the alcohol off. Meanwhile add the sugar and 300ml water to a pan and bring to a boil. Take off the heat and allow to cool before mixing with the flavoured gin and the brandy. Pour into bottles and store. This makes an excellent mixer and can even be drunk neat. It's well worth making and I guarantee that everyone you serve it to will go mad for it.

Read more at Celtnet: http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/fetch-recipe.php?rid=misc-beech-leaf-noyau
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I like the dappled effect of the first very much. marilynx · 2012-06-20: 03:43

I see the second and third as curtain material! marilynx · 2012-06-20: 03:43

The #2 is perfect Great colors and textures Thanks so much for sharing the recipe of the traditional British recipe for a classic cocktail helys · 2012-06-20: 04:02

Beautiful captures !! finbarr · 2012-06-20: 04:14

Beautiful Colours and Lighting in 2 is very good! Riyaz · 2012-06-20: 04:51

..interesting..:) teresac57 · 2012-06-20: 05:20

Reminds me a little of william morris and if you strip the shapes down matisses treatment when drawing leaves...:-)) va000119 · 2012-06-20: 06:58

Oooh I really like this set, love the colors! lannykins · 2012-06-20: 09:44

Nice! kwibusje · 2012-06-20: 12:32

beautiful colours, i heard once that you can make wine etc from every plant except grass, ive made wine from quite a few myself over the years. im going to put #3 in my favourutes. love it. jupiter2 · 2012-06-20: 13:04

#2 is spectacular.. NellyBly · 2012-06-20: 14:43

love the beaty of leaves; and i am sure the recipe would be great! miltonjacob · 2012-06-20: 15:20

The light filtering through the leaves in the last one is so lovely! lookagain · 2012-06-20: 19:23

wonderful shots you took! ... beautiful. Shaparak · 2012-06-20: 22:37

Amazing! pandka · 2012-06-21: 04:07

I love beech trees, they have very smooth bark, really beautiful... you caught their beauty really well in these photographs. And as for the recipe ... sounds really interesting. I will pass it on to a friend and maybe she will make it and then let me try it out... :) thanks! Nychthemeron · 2012-06-21: 15:45

Oh, I understand very well when you say we could be lens sisters :)) This set is just the kind I love. Beautiful! 2 in my favs. Unchained · 2012-06-22: 04:51

Beautifull! Patricia132 · 2012-06-22: 09:37

Very nice! imrepapa · 2012-06-27: 10:40