How do I make my own flavoured gin at home?

Flavouring your own gin is surprisingly easy, mess free and a delicious way to experiment with tastes and flavours that are entirely your own. It is fundamentally about infusing gin with flavours of your choice, which you can do with a wide array of ingredients, some of which you may already have. It will cost you less than buying pre-flavoured gin and offers flexibility in that you can flavour a whole bottle of gin in many directions. 

Whether you like a gin drink that is fruity and fresh or spicy and warm, the flavour possibilities are almost endless and the process is really simple.

Flavouring gin with botanicals - for yourself and for other gin lovers

Traditionally gin is made with botanicals (spices and herbs), so we will start by explaining how to use these to flavour gin at home.  Natural & Noble's DIY Gin Making Kit contains many popular botanicals abut you may already have several ingredients at home.

Alcohol is great for absorbing flavour. The higher the ABV (alcohol by volume), the more efficiently it draws out the aromatic compounds from ingredients you infuse in it. A good starting point is a standard London Dry Gin at 37.5% ABV which are found in all supermarkets.

Add your chosen botanicals to a clean, sealable jar and pour your gin over them. A recommended amount is around 1–2 teaspoons of dried botanicals per 100ml of gin. Seal the jar, give it a gentle shake, and leave it somewhere cool and dark to infuse. Leave for 24-72 hours for the flavours to infuse into the gin.

Taste every now and then. Keep a note of the recipe and how it tasted. You will quickly discover many new and enjoyable flavours.

A useful product to help you, or, if you are looking for a gin lover’s gift, is the Natural & Noble DIY Gin Making Kit. It contains 12 spices and botanicals plus an instruction booklet. It is a perfect way to start creating your own gin flavours. 

Other infusion ideas

If you want to experiment away from traditional botanicals, you can use many other ingredients to create your own gin flavours, like fresh fruit is popular. Using citrus peel, sliced berries and even cucumber will result in some spectacularly tasty drinks. Herbs like mint, rosemary, or basil can also add a deliciously subtle twist.

Summary

There really are no rules other than your own. It is best to start simply (perhaps with 1 ingredient), experiment freely, and enjoy the process. The best gin is always the one made exactly how you like it. To get started why not have a look at the Natural & Noble DIY Gin Making Kit.