Craft Your Own Artisanal Gin at Home

Embark on a flavorful journey and create your own top-shelf artisanal gin using a handful of aromatic botanicals and a bottle of vodka. This DIY gin recipe will transform your cocktail game and impress your friends with its unique, homemade charm.

Gin, once described as tasting like an “evil Christmas tree,” has become a beloved spirit for many cocktail enthusiasts. The distinctive piney flavor comes from juniper berries, but the beauty of gin lies in its versatility. From citrus zest to coriander seeds, cinnamon to anise, the botanical possibilities are endless.

As a gin aficionado, I’ve come to appreciate its chameleon-like nature in cocktails. Bold in some drinks, subtle in others, gin truly is the backbone of many classic and contemporary concoctions. While I initially hesitated to make my own, fearing it might be sacrilegious, I took the plunge and was pleasantly surprised by the results.

The World of Store-Bought Gin

While gin is readily available in liquor stores, creating your own allows for a truly personalized experience. Some of my current favorites include Bluecoat for its bold juniper and herbal notes, Nolet’s for its light, floral character, and Hendrick’s for its gentle rose petal hint in Champagne cocktails.

The DIY Gin Advantage

At its core, gin is a neutral spirit infused with juniper and other botanicals. This DIY recipe creates a compound gin, similar to some commercial methods. The result? A gin that’s just as complex and delicious as store-bought varieties, which I fondly call “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Gin” (though it’s selling it short, as it’s every bit as good as commercial gin).

The true joy of homemade gin lies in customizing the botanical blend to suit your taste preferences. Whether you prefer floral notes like lavender and chamomile or bolder flavors like rosemary or cinnamon, the choice is yours. It’s an easy, fun way to geek out on something you love using ingredients from your local grocery store.

While the resulting gin will have a light amber hue due to the infusion process, it won’t affect the appearance of your cocktails significantly.

Putting Your Homemade Gin to Work

Once you’ve crafted your gin, the possibilities are endless. Try it in a homemade gin and tonic for a drink that rivals any high-end bar offering. For a refreshing twist, mix up a gin rickey or Tom Collins. Your DIY gin will shine in cocktails featuring fresh ingredients, such as a fizzy gin and Lillet punch, an Aperol gin punch, a watermelon crawl, or a Sergeant Pepper.

DIY Artisanal Gin Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups vodka (see notes)
• 2 tablespoons juniper berries
• 1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds
• 1 teaspoon chamomile
• 1/2 teaspoon lavender
• 3 cardamom pods, broken
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 allspice berries
• Two 4-inch pieces of grapefruit peel, with no pith

Directions

1. Start by combining vodka and juniper berries in a sealable glass jar. Let this mixture steep for 12 hours to infuse the base spirit with the essential juniper flavor.
2. After the initial steeping, add the remaining botanicals: coriander, chamomile, lavender, cardamom, bay leaf, allspice, and grapefruit peel. Seal the jar tightly and give it a good shake to mix everything together. Allow this botanical blend to steep for an additional 36 hours, letting the flavors meld and intensify.
3. Once the steeping is complete, it’s time to strain your gin. First, use a strainer lined with cheesecloth to remove the solid botanicals. For an extra-smooth result, strain the liquid through cheesecloth once more before bottling. Your homemade gin can be stored at room temperature and enjoyed for up to 1 year.

Notes

For the best results, select the most neutral-tasting vodka you can find. This will allow the botanical flavors to shine through without any competing tastes.