Infuse Your Own Gin At Home And You'll Never Buy Store-Bought Again
Making your own alcohol may sound intimidating, especially for products like whiskey or wine that need to be aged for years before they are ready to be consumed. Others are much easier and less time-consuming, like making beer with home brewing kits. Even easier is infusing vodka to make your own gin.
Gin is a botanical liquor made from grain alcohol, juniper berries, and other botanicals, such as almond, angelica, anise, cassia, coriander, fennel, and citrus peels. It is commonly used in classic cocktails like the gin and tonic and the gimlet, but its herbal flavors pair well with various beverage concoctions.
Traditionally, the botanicals in gin are infused during distillation, which is why gin is not simply botanical-flavored vodka. However, using the proper ingredients, you can skip the distillation process and infuse a batch of homemade gin using vodka. While illegal homemade infusions known as "bathtub gin" gained popularity during the prohibition era, it is entirely legal to infuse your own gin now.
How to infuse your own gin
To make your own gin, you will need juniper berries, your vodka of choice, and whatever other flavors you choose to add. From lemon peels to black pepper seeds, there are plenty of options. The juniper berries, however, are essential for giving gin its defining piney flavor. The small, deep blue berries are available at most grocery stores, usually sold in dried form and located with other spices. Since juniper berries are gin's primary flavor, ensure you have about ½ cup of juniper berries per 750 ml vodka.
You can choose your brand and price point for the vodka but know that even botanicals won't mask the sting of a $10 handle, so we recommend a quality variety. The rest of the flavors are up to you, so don't hesitate to get creative. You can stay simple with one extra, like lemon peels, or go bold with a combination of flavors, like this recipe that calls for coriander seeds, chamomile, lavender, cardamom pods, a bay leaf, allspice, and grapefruit peels.
Once you have your ingredients, combine them in a large jar and wait. After two-to-three weeks, strain out and discard the solids, and your gin is ready to drink.
What to make with infused gin
Once your gin is ready to drink, there are many cocktails you can make. If your infused gin features several flavor combinations, you can let the botanicals shine in a simple cocktail. We recommend using cold gin, fresh lime, and bottled tonic water for the perfect gin and tonic. Layering the ingredients properly is key: First, use the lime wedge to rim a Collins glass, then add the squeezed lime and two or three ice cubes. Top with 3 ounces of chilled gin, then fill to the top with chilled tonic water.
Another option that could complement a citrus-forward homemade gin is a Bee's Knees. You'll need your gin, honey simple syrup, lemon juice, and a lemon peel to garnish this cocktail. Add 2 ounces of gin, ½ ounce of simple syrup, and 1-ounce lemon juice to a shaker filled with ice, shake for 15 seconds, and strain into a coupe glass.
If you are looking for more inspiration, check out our list of 10 gin cocktails.