7 Do-It-Yourself Drink Projects
Isn't there something about springtime (what with its theme of rebirth), that just makes you want to try something new? You know, decide to finally tackle that hobby or at-home craft project you've been thinking about doing forever but never actually made the time for.
For drink enthusiasts the challenge may simply be deciding which one to start with. Below are ideas for seven different drink-inspired projects to whet your appetite.
DIY Project: Homemade bitters
Difficulty Level: Medium
Consider this an experiment for the card-carrying cocktail geek. As far as process is concerned, making your own bitters at home is deceptively simple. It requires little more than adding a long list of ingredients together and — for lack of a better term — letting them do their thing. The only real caveat is sourcing the more obscure aromatic ingredients like quassia bark and gentian. But hey, that's what the internet is for, right? Plus, the recipe for one base batch should make enough to last the home bartender at least a year.
Click for A Lesson in How to Make Bitters.
Click for the Saigon Cinnamon & Walnut Bitters recipe.
DIY Project: Liquor infusions
Difficulty Level: Easy
Tired of shying away from or having to adapt recipes that call for ingredients like "bacon-infused bourbon" and "housemade tangerine and serrano vodka"? Good, you should be. Liquor infusions are not something to be intimidated by. Rather they should be seen as an opportunity to express your creativity — play mad scientist behind the bar.
Click for 10 Secrets to Perfect Liquor Infusions.
Click for the Tangerine and Serrano Vodka recipe.
DIY Project: Barrel-aged cocktails
Difficulty Level: Advanced
This burgeoning trend that involves aging pre-made cocktails in used oak barrels may best be saved for the more experienced drink mixer. Introduced stateside by Portland-based cocktail expert and blogger Jeffrey Morgenthaler, it's a project that has been attempted by inspired bartenders across the country — even Grant Achatz has experimented with the concept for his upcoming cocktail bar Aviary in Chicago. Still, if you're interested in the challenge, check out Morgenthaler's blog post documenting his process.
DIY Project: Homebrewing
Difficulty Level: Varies
If you call yourself a beer fanatic, no better time than the present to jump on this increasingly popular bandwagon. Start by investing in a kit — you can find them online or at your local homebrew supply store (even Whole Foods carries them now) — and then pick a style, any style. The beauty is that even if you aren't a novice, the range of styles and products to work with is so vast that there's always something new to challenge yourself with. Stuck on a problem and need help? The community of homebrewers is active and very vocal in online forums like Homerewtalk.com.
Click for the Homebrewing for Manhattanites 101 story.
DIY Project: Limoncello
Difficulty Level: Easy
It's almost dangerous to know how easy it is to make this potent Italian lemon liqueur. Essentially you just need grappa, simple syrup, and a lot of lemons (as well as an equal amount of patience to peel them all). One month later — poof — homemade limoncello. For a more in-depth, step-by-step demonstration, take a look at the video below featuring wine expert and New York restaurateur Joe Campanale.
DIY Project: Nocino
Difficulty Level: Medium
If limoncello is your kind of DIY drink project, then making nocino should be too — that is, if you're a fan of walnuts. This dark, syrupy liqueur originating from Emilia-Romagna involves steeping green, unripe walnuts in a spirit with some spices for about two months. David Lebovitz has a great recipe, or check out this video for a more detailed explanation of the process.
DIY Project: Ginger beer
Difficulty Level: Medium
If you're a fan of the Dark 'n' Stormy, there's no excuse not to take your devotion to the next level and make your own ginger beer. While the yeast can be a little tricky to work with, if you happen to have a soda siphon, you can simply make the syrup and use the machine to add carbonation.