Having fun with Gin and Vodka

[pikilily]

Ihave been, aherm!!, making raspberry gin, redcurrent vodka , elderflower gin , strawberry vodka , tayberry hic gin, ....looking forward to long dark winters nights being warmed by the acloholic fruits of my labours....well already have some tasting sessions. Hey... and the strained fruit goes very, very well with icecream when stirred up and warmed 'gently' (that leaves the alcohol in the fruit!!!) [/quote]

[hamster]

That sounds like an excellent use of your time!! Only a few days till I get my rhubarb vodka back (if the bf hasn't drunk it in the meantime). Raspberry gin sounds awesome - might have to try some of that myself...

[mybarnconversion]

Raspberry gin ... share your recipe please!

Don't forget Sloe vodka later in the year my favourite!

[pikilily]

This is how I have done it. Makey-uppy-recipe (first time trying...)
warm loads of sugar....(this can be adjusted to taste as you experiment)
and disolve in a little boiling water to make a strong syrup.
stuff as many rasps, or elderflowers, or strawbs etc, as possible, into a container
put all this in together with 75 cl or litre of alcohol of choice. (Gin or Vodka tried so far)
leave for 24-48 hrs and strain through muslin bag back into bottle. Imediately taste and enjoy. If required at this point you can add some more sugar syrup.
the result is a beautifully coloured tasty liquer. Even the gin ones can be drunk without a mixer....delicious.

the fruit strained off can also be usedfor puddings!!

Let me know how you get on... and if you have any improvements.
PS rasps and currents give fantastic flavour and colour...strawbs rather more delicate. Ive tried strawbs with vodka...I think with gin may not be so palatable.

[Thomzo]

Good on you Pikilily!

I made some damson vodka last year. I just bung the damsons, sugar and vodka in a big jar and shake daily until you get bored. Then strain and bottle.

I also used the fruit in desserts. It is delish! Just serve with cream or home-made ice-cream.

If you save small bottles (like the alcopop bottles) you can decant some to give as presents. Keep some of the fruit and put it into the bottle. It looks really pretty.

Have also done the sloe gin and damson gin in the past but gin makes me depressed.

Looks like I shall have loads of elderberries so might try elderberry vodka this time.

Zoe

[Cheezy]

I'm working my way through last years sloe gin/vodka (a mix as I find pure sloe gin a bit too neat ginnie, works well so you could substitute all the gin out for depression reasons!)

It's excellent as it was a good year for sloes. Looking forward to getting some of next doors damsons this year.


How do you make rhubarb vodka?. Had rhubarb jellie vodka in a restaurant once, it was fab. You make the rhubarb vodka first (recipe anyone), then you use this to flavour the jelly.!

[vixnpips]

Having read this post a couple of days ago.. hubs toddled off to go buy some white rum, lemons and limes.

he came back all happy with himself and proceeded to make a "breezer" type concoction which he is now happily tasting!


Work well but you either need more syprup added ( he didn't do this bit) , or add lemonade as it's strong enough to blow your socks off!

[chadspad]

I have a couple of bottles of Eau de Vie which is just neat alcohol made from fruits and very strong. Cos its pretty undrinkable as it is I bunged a load of elderflowers in to try to improve the taste but its worse now lol. However my friend has told me of a drink called 44 which includes coffee beans and eau de vie left for 44 days - ive got to get the recipe for that!

[hmk]

I have a couple of bottles of Eau de Vie which is just neat alcohol made from fruits and very strong. Cos its pretty undrinkable as it is I bunged a load of elderflowers in to try to improve the taste but its worse now lol. However my friend has told me of a drink called 44 which includes coffee beans and eau de vie left for 44 days - ive got to get the recipe for that!

I'll second the undrinkable bit- I bought straight Fruit Eau de Vie and Apple EDV on holiday last year. The plain stuff was deliberately bought to flavour with fruit, but the apple stuff is just as bad. I thought I may have a go at making my own apple snapps or liquer with it.
The plain EDV I have made into a rather good cherry liquer (if I do say so myself). Make as per sloe gin/vodka- cherries (pricked or bashed), sugar and a few almonds if you like, all in a big jar and topped up wioth alcohol. Shake regularly. Recently tested on some highly sceptical friends who really enjoyed it. You should be able to make it with brandy or vodka instead I reckon.
I did try eating one of the cherries and had to sit down for ten minutes... I think I may try the 'sloe gin' chocolates with them

I've also tried lemon balm vodka and redcurrant gin this year...

Hazel

[Cornelian]

Something else to do with your vodka - if you use vanilla extract in your cooking or drinks, then get some yummy vanilla beans (try ebay, people often sell them there for next to nothing - I got 100 juicy beans at 30 cents each the other day), a couple of bottles, and (depending on the size of the bottle, insert one to three split open vanilla beans, cover entirely with vodka, leave in your dark cool pantry for at least 4 months, and voila! You have natural and the most exquisite vanilla extract at a fraction of the costs of what you pay in the shops (I don't know what prices are like in the UK, but here they are appalling). Shake the bottles occasionally during the period they are developing.

[Cheezy]

Having read this post a couple of days ago.. hubs toddled off to go buy some white rum, lemons and limes.

he came back all happy with himself and proceeded to make a "breezer" type concoction which he is now happily tasting!


Work well but you either need more syprup added ( he didn't do this bit) , or add lemonade as it's strong enough to blow your socks off!

Ah what you need to make with those ingredients is Mojito's (said Moheata)

THE Cuban national drink

Here's my recipe :
Base this on a cocktail shakers cap which I think is 25ml

This make 2 Mojito's, you'll need two glasses I prefer large 300 to 500 ml ones.

1. In the shaker or other vessel put 1 lime cut into quarters, on top of this put 2 teas spoons of brown sugar or castor sugar.(or more for taste)
2. with a rolling pin or proper cocktail "muddler" crush the lime and sugar mixure as much as possible, trying to disolve the sugar.
3. Add 3 caps of preferably Havana rum (or white rum), mix well
4. take a hand full of fresh mint leaves and clap your hands together several times to release the mintiness (crushing creates a vegetable flavour, clapping is better!), add this to the mix and again stir.
5.take a bag of ice and roughly beat it with the rolling pin so you have crushed ice
6. fill the large glass approx 3/4 full of ice. then add half your alco mix
7. top up with club soda, or any sparkling water giv eit a really good stir
8. sit in the sun (Ha!) and enjoy

[vixnpips]

ahh thanks cheesy... will be trying that soon!

[the.fee.fairy]

I love pear drop vodka - just decant the vodka so there's half a bottle, then fill with smashed pear drops.

leave for about 3 weeks, shake every day. When the pear drops have melted, it will have a lovely peachy colour, and be quite syrupy...lovely!!

[vixnpips]

Well the banana rum worked very well.. and the sound of pear drop vodka sounds nice.. but then made me think, what about vodka with blackcurrent liquorice.. they shoud dissolve the same way as pear drops.. so will give that a go and let you guys know! LOL

[the.fee.fairy]

I've found that you need boiled sweets really. I tried it with jelly babies once and it went disastrously wrong!!

If you use werthers originals, or those campinos thngs, then you need to shake the vodka every time you drink it because the creamy bits rise to the top.