Vodka or Gin For Christmas Presents

[MattN]

Hi Folks

I would like to make 3 x 75cl bottles of something for Christmas presents. The recipients like both Gin and Vodka. What recipes do you know that will be done by Christmas.

Thanks

Matt

 

[ryanshelton]

Are you thinking about making vodka or gin? If so you do know it's illegal?

 

[oldbloke]

Zest of a couple of lemons dumped into a bottle of vodka make it much more interesting, but maybe not enough to be a gift.
Ditto a vanilla pod (or two)
We've got a Big Jar downstairs with a chopped up pineapple and a bottle of vodka in it, should be nice, only takes a couple of weeks before you can take the pineapple out again.
Almost any soft fruit is going to make vodka more interesting, and they only need to steep a month or so, maybe 2.
Gin's pickier. Sloes is of course trad, but they're not ready yet. Should be in time to make it from chrimble tho.
Plum kinda works. So maybe damsons do too.

 

[oldbloke]

Are you thinking about making vodka or gin? If so you do know it's illegal?

I assume he's talking about buying the spirit and them messing about with it, which is what we created the non-brewed section for, in part.
I find when I'm in the local newsagent buying cheap spirits for this stuff, it's always the little old ladies who nod knowingly when you say what it's for.

 

[ryanshelton]

Ah ok I'm on my phone to be honest and cannot see what section anything has been posted in :-)

 

[Grumpy Jack]

I've had a similar idea for Christmas gifts... Apple & cinnamon vodka and red & whitecurrant gin. No idea if it will work... But good fun finding out.

 

[MattN]

Thanks for the reply's. I was referring to shop bought Vodka/Gin

Oldbloke Would Damsons work for both Gin and Vodka. Also would it be better to freeze them first or to use them fresh with the skin pierced?

Grumpy, I like the look of the red & white currant gin. What quantities did you use, when did you start it and when do you expect it to be ready?

Thanks

Matt

 

[oldbloke]

Oldbloke Would Damsons work for both Gin and Vodka. Also would it be better to freeze them first or to use them fresh with the skin pierced?

I'd only be guessing, we do it every year with various things but wing it every time. It all seems to work but with varying degrees of success.
We've stopped adding sugar now as we almost always use something sweet (eg cream soda or lemonade) as a mixer.
We did plum gin with fresh halved&stoned plums. Sloes have been both fresh and frozen. Various spirits with berries have used frozen most times.
Frozen ought to break a few cell walls and get the flavour out more easily but might generate more gunk that'd have to be got rid of somehow if it's going to be good enough to be a gift

 

[Grumpy Jack]

Grumpy, I like the look of the red & white currant gin. What quantities did you use, when did you start it and when do you expect it to be ready?

Thanks

Matt

That was three take away containers full which I bunged in the freezer after a good wash. They are quite well split so will need a good filter to run through when bottling but I think it doesn't look too bad. I started them last week and am aiming at bottling in late November but will have a couple of taste tests before.

 

[Dave1970]

Would Damsons work for both Gin and Vodka. Also would it be better to freeze them first or to use them fresh with the skin pierced?

I've done Damson vodka, worked great, similar flavour to sloe gin.

 

[Half Full]

+1 for damson vodka, and damson gin. Recommended in Andy Hamilton's book Booze For Free, as being superior to the sloe equivalent. Dont buy expensive vodka or gin, cheap will be absolutely fine.

 

[BIGJIM72]

Raspberry vodka is delicious.

 

[MattN]

Thanks folks

I have decided to do 1.5l of damson gin and the same with vodka. I will give the first to recipients a choice and depending on what is left will be for me and the third present.

Many thanks for your replies.

Regards

Matt

 

[graysalchemy]

I got some cheap Gin from Aldi today. I was going to use Hugh Fearnley- Eatitalls damson vodka recipe but use Gin

1kg damsons, washed
500g sugar
1 litre vodka

I have frozen mine to help extract a bit more of the flavour and easy removal of the stones. However i fear that I will end up with cloudy gin. :hmm: :hmm:

 

[tropicalpisshead]

Just to add my two bobs worth
I make a lot of fruit infused vodka as I have a ready source of vodka.
One of my favourites is strawberry.
Great colour and a very fruity flavour.
Worth a crack folks.
Also make nectarine and kiwi fruit.
tried banana but was a bliddy disaster,LOL tasted like wedding cake and we all know how that can ruin yer life.
As I said, just my two bobs worth :drunk:

 

[MattN]

I got some cheap Gin from Aldi today. I was going to use Hugh Fearnley- Eatitalls damson vodka recipe but use Gin

1kg damsons, washed
500g sugar
1 litre vodka

I have frozen mine to help extract a bit more of the flavour and easy removal of the stones. However i fear that I will end up with cloudy gin. :hmm: :hmm:

This is what I did with Vodka and Gin, looks very nice already.

Matt

 

[David31]

Just to warn you all that Hugh FW has a very sweet tooth (compared to mine in any case.) I'd use a lot less sugar and add to taste nearer the end if you're not sure.

I drink my Sloe gin with tonic so don't want it too sweet - or with cheese etc nearly neat so also not wanting syrupy stuff.

David.

 

[dennisdk2000]

I do this one:

1 vanilla pod
1 orange pricked 40 times
40 whole coffee beans
40 sugar cubes (or 40 tsp sugar)
1 bottle of vodka
Leave to infuse for 40 days, giving it a shake daily.
Like home-made Grand Marnier!

Dennis

 

[tropicalpisshead]

If it helps, I find that when I make fruit liquers I don't use any added sugar or syrup during the macerating process.
This makes it a lot easier to filter.
I then taste and sweeten with simple syrup to my liking.
Hope that helps.
Cheers
Big Al

 

[kentmark]

Denis i'm liking the sound of your recepie. I've just inherited a few random bottles of spirits. One of them is an orange vodka. Wouldnt get drunk otherwise so going to give your recepie a go with this as a base.

Have got a load of damsons in the freezer and some normal vodka so think i will do a damson vodka as well.