Amber Twilight

Rowanberry, date and mandarin vodka liqueur for amber twilight glow

Amber Twilight catches the last light of autumn in the glass. Rowanberries bring woodland bite; dates answer with caramel hush. Mandarin zest lifts the nose, its juice threading citrus brightness through the amber body. A shy half-star of anise with cinnamon and vanilla lingers at the edges—never loud, just warm. This is an evening liqueur: the bottle opens, talk softens, shoulders drop. Sip by a window as dusk deepens; each pour feels like the moment the sky turns from gold to indigo.

Ingredients

Vodka – 1 L
Rowanberry – 750g
Dates - 150 g
Mandarine - 1 (Juice + Zest)
White Sugar - 100g
Cane Sugar – 100g
Honey (Wielokwiatowy) – 50 g
Star anise – ½ star
Cinnamon – ½ stick
Vanilla - ½ stick

Preparation

Sterilize a 2 L jar and let it dry completely
Freeze the rowanberries for 24–48 hours, then thaw or blanch for 2 minutes, drain and dry
Pit and chop the dates, zest the mandarin thinly, squeeze the juice, split the vanilla and scrape the seeds
Put berries, dates, zest, juice, sugars, honey, star anise, cinnamon and vanilla into the jar
Pour in the vodka and stir well until sugars begin to dissolve
Store in a cool dark place for 6 months, shake daily for the first week and then once a week
Strain through a sieve, press gently and filter through cloth or coffee filter until clear
Taste and adjust sweetness with a little syrup or honey if needed
Bottle the liqueur, label it and let it rest for 2 to 4 weeks before drinking