How To Flavour Your Own Gin

Feeling inspired to craft your own flavoured gin at home? Get some ginspiration with these fun suggestions…

1 HOT & SPICY GIN
Find a large preserving bottle, then pour in 700ml of gin. Add a pinch of saffron, three peppercorns and three small chillies, chopped. Leave for a week, shaking each day. After this, filter to remove the solid ingredients, leaving a clean, spicy drink.

2 CUCUMBER & ROSE
Pour around 700ml of gin into a large preserving jar or bottle. Add three small cucumbers, sliced lengthways and cut into 2cm square pieces, and a handful of pink rosebuds and a handful of chopped mint. Seal and shake gently to mix. Leave for a week in a cool, dark place and then strain off the cucumber and return the infused gin to the bottle.

3 BLACKBERRY GIN
Blitz 900g blackberries and 100g of granulated sugar, then press the mixture through a sieve into a pan. Add 300g of granulated sugar and a cinnamon stick to the pan and cook over a medium heat until the sugar has completely dissolved. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, then stir in 700ml gin. Remove from the heat and discard the cinnamon. Shake well, then strain into bottles. Serve diluted with sparkling water and ice.

“If you’re new to making flavoured gin, there’s no need to use your favourite hand-crafted bottle. We recommend a good quality but affordable London Dry such as Tanqueray.”

4 ROSEMARY & POMEGRANATE
Put three sprigs of rosemary in a large, clean container. Cut two pomegranates in half and remove the seeds. Crush them and add to the jar. Grate the zest of one lemon and add that to the jar. Pour over 700ml of gin, ensuring the rosemary is fully covered, and add two tablespoons of honey. Shake well, seal the container and leave in a cool, dark place for up to two weeks, shaking the jar every day. Once ready, strain it into bottles ready to use.

5 RASPBERRY & MINT
Pour 700ml gin, 400g fresh raspberries, a handful of fresh mint, 250g caster sugar and a few drops of almond essence into a large prepared jar. Seal and store in a cold, dark place, giving the bottles a good shake each day for 2-3 weeks. Once it’s to your liking, strain the remaining liquid into another bottle.

6 APPLE & PEAR
Cut a pear and four apples into slices, then place them all in the bottom of a clean container. Pour over 700ml of gin and shake well, then seal the lid tightly and store in a cool, dark place for around one week. Test the flavour daily, and once it’s to your taste, strain the fruits. Store for around two months.

7 SAGE & GRAPE
In a cocktail shaker, combine 100g red grapes, a handful of fresh sage, 50g sugar, 700ml gin and 50ml lemon juice. Add ice to the top, and shake hard for 30 seconds. Pour into a sealed container and leave for around two weeks, shaking and tasting each day. Once it’s to your liking, drain it and pour into a bottle. Enjoy at your leisure, it usually lasts for a month.

PIMP YOUR GIN

Other infusions ideas for delicious homemade gin! 

LAVENDER
The floral flavour is really delicious, just make sure to check your ratio of lavender to gin so it isn’t overpowering.
TOFFEE
A favourite for those with a sweet tooth, this can be done by simply blitzing a bag of Werther’s Original solid toffees. Add this to 200ml of gin and shake every few hours until it’s dissolved.
MARSHMALLOWS
Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it, simply cut up 20 white marshmallows into equal sized small pieces and add to a jar with 700ml of gin. Leave for a couple of days, stirring occasionally and then serve. You can thank us later!

Looking for garnishes to go with your G&T? We have some great suggestions.