Grapes "Isabella" is popular because of its original taste and a large number contained in its composition of useful vitamins and trace elements. In our article we will tell about the peculiarities of this variety and share a simple recipe for fruit liqueurs.
Grapes "Isabella": features of the variety
"Isabella" was bred at the beginning of the XVII century in the USA (South Carolina) from the varieties "Vitis Labruska" and "Vitis Winifira". Soon the variety was introduced to Europe and became very popular due to its unpretentiousness and high yield.
Did you know? The great conqueror Tamerlane during military campaigns always ordered the burning of the vineyards of the enemy.
Isabella berries are medium-sized, round or oval in shape. The peel is black, covered with a wax coating. The taste of these ripe fruits resembles the taste of strawberries. Winegrowers often call this variety "lisy" because of its flavor, which is close to the smell of wet fox wool. 
"Isabella" is a table-technical grape variety, its berries are used for making wine, juices and tinctures.
Useful substances in the composition help to cleanse the body of toxins, strengthen the immune system and restore tone.
Important! To determine ripeness "Isabella" need to smell a bunch. Ripe berries have a special specific aroma.
Features of the selection of grapes
To prepare a good liqueur, you need to use only high-quality grapes. To select it, pay attention to the following nuances.
At the time of buying
Buy should be fresh, fully ripened grapes. Berries should not be rotten or covered with mold and stains. 
Every bad berry can adversely affect the taste of the drink.
Did you know? During the anti-alcohol campaign in the USSR in 1985-1987, 30% of the vineyards that existed on this territory were cut down.
When self-collecting
If you grow your own grapes, then it must be harvested before the first frost. The collection should be carried out in dry weather.
In different climatic zones, the time of picking fruits of this variety may vary. In the southern strip it is recommended to collect it at the end of September, in mid-latitudes - in the middle of October. 
Experienced gardeners are advised not to show haste in the collection and allow the clusters to hang a little. Due to this, the berries will be better fed on natural sugar and will get a sweet taste and a pleasant aroma.
Read how to make wine "Isabella" at home, also see the recipe for making homemade champagne from grape leaves.
How to make liqueur from "Isabella": a step by step recipe
To make a delicious liqueur from Isabella you need to follow simple instructions:
- Grapes must be prepared. To do this, you need to manually separate each berry from the branch.
- Rinse grapes thoroughly under cold water.
- Pour the berries in a three-liter jar to the tapering part.
- Add 2.5 tablespoons of sugar. A smaller amount is not recommended, since sugar will soften the alcohol.
- Dilute the alcohol with water in the ratio 1: 3 and pour the solution into the jar so that it covers the berries by 2 centimeters. You can use vodka instead of diluted alcohol.
- Close the capron lid and shake 20-30 times.
- Leave the brandy for 7 days.
- Drain the beverage into the prepared bottle.
- After that, the berries can be used a second time. To do this, in the expressed grapes, you must add sugar again and repeat the above procedure.
- Two bottles of delicious liqueur are ready, you should not pour berries more than twice.
Video: how to make liqueur from Isabella grapes
Important! It is not recommended to pour grapes with moonshine, it can change the taste of the brandy for the worse.
Terms and conditions of storage
The container with the brandy must be tightly corked and stored in a refrigerator or cellar. Shelf life is not more than 3 years.
Useful tips
Here are some recommendations:
- The most common mistake in the manufacture of grape liqueur - the use of cheap and low-quality vodka. Even fragrant berries will not be able to kill her smell.
- If the taste of the drink is very sweet, you can add lemon juice to it, it goes well with all grape varieties.
- Ready pouring is better to pour into small bottles. Repeated pouring and opening of dishes can reduce the quality of the drink.
- To clean the hands of the grape juice, you need to take an ordinary lemon, cut off the slice to wipe the skin. Table vinegar will also cope well with this kind of contamination: you should moisten cotton wool in it and thoroughly wipe contaminated places.
We recommend to learn what are useful: grape vinegar, grape seeds and grape leaf, as well as read how to cook - raisins at home, wine, juice and grape jam for the winter.
Grapes "Isabella" is often used as a raw material for homemade liqueurs. Following simple instructions, you can make a good and high-quality liqueur, which will be to the taste of both you and your guests.
