The sort of cheating way to MAKE YOUR OWN GIN, but it’s great!
I’ve always been rather partial to a Gin and Tonic but the explosion of the Craft Gin culture has really opened my eyes up to what gin can be. Last year my sister and I went to The Gin Fair and the range of hugely different gins was eye-opening!
But at its heart gin is simply a neutral spirit flavored with botanicals, the dominant flavor being juniper. That’s really it! I don’t have the equipment to distill my own from scratch so I began using vodka last year. This ‘steeping’ is a recognized method of gin making and is known as Compound Gin.
The method is super simple. Put your ‘dry’ flavours and Juniper in a steralised bottle or jar and top up with vodka. Leave for 24hrs. Taste. You can adjust your flavors at this point and leave to take on more flavor. I wouldn’t leave it much longer than 48hrs in total because the flavors can become very strong.
If you want to use any ‘fresh’ ingredients like orange peel, for example add this after the dry has done its thing, and steep again.
Honestly, thats it!
One thing i would recommend though… make small batches to test! I have made some undrinkable things and was glad to have not wasted a litre of vodka on the monstrosity!
As well as making small batches to begin with, take notes on how much of what you use each time. The options are endless(ish). I say ish because nobody needs prawn gin in their life.
But common dry ingredients can include Cardamon, Angelica root, Cinnamon, Corriander seed, Vanilla, Peppercorns, dried Rosemary, Liquorice, Lavender, Cumin, Fennel seeds…
Fresh ingredients would be things like Citrus peel, fresh Rosemary, Lemongrass, Ginger, Strawberries, Raspberries…
Basically the world is your oyster with this but I warn you… once you start experimenting its pretty addictive!
3 OF MY FAVORITES –
Orange and Saffron Gin
This is a gin so good you can drink it neat but with tonic, its basically my favorite. The orange peel gives it a sweet smell and the saffron keeps it earthy.
Lime and Lemongrass Gin.
This is so good on a hot summers day with loads of ice. Its like gins gone on holiday to Thailand.
Rose Gin.
This is so simple and so lovely, delicate and light. Sitting outside on a warm summers evening with this is like having the essence of an old english garden in your hand. Bliss.
