Help me make flavoured vodka/gin. I'm a homemade virgin!

[theladylovescupcakes]

would like to make some flavoured alcohol for gifting. a
Any tried and tested recipes or tips? Thank you.

[LemonDifficult]

I've done some blackberry vodka this year but it probably wouldn't work for you as it needs time (like a couple of months) to brew and then you decant it into bottles.

You might try something that you can give with the flavouring still in (but with instructions to open from end of January or whatever). I think Lemon and chilli vodkas work like that but I haven't done them.

[GetOffTheCat]

If you haven't been out sloe picking have a think about Blueberry gin/vodka. You can convince yourself it's a super drink!!! 2 packs blueberrys 200g sugar in a 1L Kilner jar & vanilla pod is optional. Keep in a cupboard and shake twice daily for first week, daily for second then when you remember to 8 weeks. Taste for sweetness & add more sugar of needed. Leave for further 4 weeks. Strain through muslin. The fruitakes a fab boozy pud with custard or ice cream Enjoy

[ShirleyKnot]

You've left it quite late to start any with natural flavours TBH, but you can deffo make some childhood sweetie flavoured vodka if that's any good to you?

Skittles ones are popular, I've just finished making a parma violet one and a rhubarb and custard, and am adding more werther's original to my jar tonight.

Very easy to do!

[LtEveDallas]

Have you got a dishwasher? (Seriously!)

[GetOffTheCat]

Oops mailing from phone with 14wk DD slumped on me! Add fruit etc then top up with spirit. Blackberry whiskey is also nice. There are no quick ones for Christmas I'm afraid.

[GetOffTheCat]

Oh yes shirleuknot I remember making liquorice vodka once cheers!

[LtEveDallas]

If you have a dishwasher you can make flavoured vodka in one cycle...

[ShirleyKnot]

Oh yes, LtEve has got a brilliant cheat using the dishwasher - haven't you?

[ShirleyKnot]

ha, cross posted!

[MartyrStewart]

I did Christmas pudding brandy, and it only took 4 weeks - although it definitely gets better the longer you leave it.

My Toffee vodka and candy cane vodka only took a couple of weeks, Mint Aero and Milkybar are still settling 6 weeks on.

[ShirleyKnot]

So, tell me AGAIN about the mint aero one - have you filtered it yet? How does it taste, and ALSO tell me about the milky bar one please!

[MartyrStewart]

I've not filtered either of them, I just melted the chocolate in the microwave and added it to the vodka.

Aero one needed a lot of shaking or it got green minty scum on the top - so I kept it by the kettle and gave it a go every time I put a brew on.

Milkybar seemed to mix a lot more quickly but it still tastes more of vodka than chocolate, although less so each week.

I got a lot of what looked like melted chocolate stuck to the inside lid of the kilner jar with both of them, so about two weeks in I scraped it off with a spatula and stirred it back in. Seems to have worked.

[LtEveDallas]

Ha!

Gotta go out soon and prob wont get back on so if you do have a d/w...

1 ltr bottle of Vodka - remove about 1/4.
Fill with chosen sweets (boiled sweets are best, if you use skittles or chews you will need to skim off 'scum' afterwards)
Give larger sweets a good bashing, when I did Rhubard and Custard I'd smashed them into almost powder.
If using chocolate use about a 500g bar

Put lid back on and twist some cling film around it (just in case)

Put bottle in the top of the dishwasher and run a 70 degree daily cycle.

Take out and let it cool naturally

Bingo!!

(If you then put it in the freezer it wont go solid but will go v v thick like a liquer)

[PotteringAlong]

hairy bikers Christmas pudding vodka

[ShirleyKnot]

God I want to try mint aero flavoured vodka SO BLOODY MUCH.

[MartyrStewart]

You are welcome to some - but I think you are a bit far from me

[theladylovescupcakes]

Gosh lots of replies! Thank you! No dishwasher, I'm afraid. Shirley, Parma violets voddie sounds lovely! How much of each ingredient? Will have a look at the hairy bikers one after tea. Thanks all. Any more?

[ShirleyKnot]

It's EASY - I used 2 x packs of those GIANT parma violets to one of those small bottles of vodka - you will obviously be wanting to make much more volume for gifts, so let me think - you'll need about 8 packs of big parma violets for 1 litre of vodka More info here on my blog

I'm on week 4 now of the werthers but that's because i'm lazy I haven't added the extra sweets yet - I think any boiled sweets will dissolve well before xmas!

[MartyrStewart]

Shirley - I used the chewy Werthers and they took only a couple of days to dissolve.

[theladylovescupcakes]

Shirley, what a fab blog! Just had a wee look so far and I'm inspired. Off to shops tomorrow to buy me some vodka and sweets

[AvadaKedavra]

Parma violet one goes very scummy. And it smells lovely but after one sip you'll have had enough and the smell of it will make you feel ill [voice of experience]

I have had great results with vanilla, red chilli, the syrup off preserved ginger and licorice.

[ShirleyKnot]

OOOh AK- is the vanilla vodka just a split pod added into a bottle of vodka?



I am the parma violet weirdo and I agree that it is a one shot drink - I'm making stuff for Xmas and planning on a liquor tour

[ShirleyKnot]

Oh and thank you theladylovescupcakes - DO IT! You can add Cola Cubes or Pineapple cubes or...anything that rings that nostalgia bell for you (Refreshers might be fun, or Wham Bars)

[ChaosTrulyReigns]

Shirley, does the parma violet vodka remind you OF anything?

[ChaosTrulyReigns]

Have you seen these?