Homemade Gin Infusions: A DIY Guide To Spirit-ed Flavour Combinations
When you’ve progressed a little further along in your journey of serving delicious cocktails to friends and family, you may want to add to your secret arsenal of winsome spirits by infusing your regular gin with a few unique flavours. How do you do that? By picking the ingredients that will enhance the flavour of the gin and vice versa. Now gin has botanicals of its own, so you don’t want to introduce an ingredient that will clash with the spirit’s inherent flavour. One way to circumvent this is by using a quality London Dry Gin (think Tanqueray or Gordon’s) that is more neutral and therefore perfect for these sorts of infusions.
A few basics before you get started: Ensure you have a clean, sterile and sealable jar to make your infusions. Look to seasonal ingredients for inspiration, but check that their flavours are complementary to those of gin. Once your infusion is complete, strain the spirit to remove any solids, and fine-strain further to get rid of any sediments. Store your infused spirit carefully in a cool, dark place, with the container shut tight.
Citrus Blend
Infusing London Dry Gin with lemon and orange peels gives it a very Mediterranean touch. Let it sit for about 3-4 days, and then strain it. This infusion will work well in a classic G&T or even a Gin Lemonade!
Cha-Cha Chai
Tea and gin might almost be a match made in heaven, but don’t just take our word for it. In a clean jar or bottle, measure out a tablespoon of good quality loose-leaf tea and top with London Dry Gin. Close the jar and set it aside. After two days, you can use the infusion to prepare deliciously flavoured martinis, negroni and more. Use the infusion in the measure recommended by the recipe for the particular cocktails, and not more.
Rosemary Grapefruit Delight
Peel and slice a grapefruit and place them at the bottom of a clean glass jar. Generously sprinkle rosemary over the citrus, then pour a London Dry Gin of your choice (we recommend Tanqueray) over this and seal the jar. Let it rest for at least six days to create a gorgeous, flavourful infusion.
Heatwave
If you love yourself a bit of a spice, this infusion is sure to become a favourite. For this, peel a mango and cut it into chunks. Sprinkle some chilli flakes over the mango (just as much heat as you’d like). Pour some Gordon’s London Dry Gin over the mango-chilli and let it rest for at least four days. This infusion makes for a fabulous addition to tropical-flavoured cocktails.
Lavender Lemonade
For this, you’ll need dried lavender and lemon zest. Add these to your London Dry Gin and let it infuse for 6 days. After straining the infusion, you’ll end up with a yummy floral and zesty infusion that will go really well in a martini, mojito or even a margarita! Do use recommended recipe measures when mixing these cocktails with your Lavender Lemonade Gin.
Peach Rose Wedding
This is another delicate and delightful infusion and not a very common one at that. It is, however, delicious. For this, you’ll need ripe peaches — pink and preferably not too firm, and some dried rose petals. Steep in a London Dry Gin like Tanqueray for at least five days. Experience the enchantment!
Chamomile Honey Siesta
Infuse dried chamomile flowers and some honey — depending on your sweetness preference — in a jar of gin for about four days and you can have this infusion in a warm or cool beverage because it’s calming however you choose to have it!
Minty Pineapple Twister
This infusion will need fresh, tart and juicy chunks of pineapple and verdant sprigs of mint leaves. Put into a mason jar or other glass container, and pour gin over it. It is advised that you use a neutral spirit like London Dry Gin’s. We recommend Gordon’s for this infusion. Allow it to steep for at least four days, and then use the infusion in recipes for mojitos, punch, or even a Mint Pineapple Gin Spritz. Do follow the measures indicated in the recipes when adding the spirit so you know just how many standard drinks you’re serving or imbibing.
Apple Cinnamon Pie
Slice apples as thinly as possible, then add with a few cinnamon sticks into a mason jar. Pour to the halfway mark with a London Dry Gin, preferably Tanqueray. Let it infuse for 4-5 days. Use the infused spirit in a Gin Old-Fashioned (60 ml) or in a Hot Gin Toddy (45 ml).
What can you do with these infusions? Bottle them to gift your loved ones, or use them in your cocktail recipes in place of regular gin. The infusions will add a whole new depth to the drinks you mix. Do stick to recommended measures of the spirit in any recipe, and enjoy in moderation!
