Anyone making flavoured gin/vodka for presents

[kateecass]

Has anyone seen any cheap small bottles between 50 and 100 ml? Or can you think of something from the supermarket I could reuse? I'm planning on making vanilla essence too so need quite a few!

I've found these water bottles to reuse but they are too big to use for everybody. I'll end up with none for myself!!
Thanks in advance!

kilner bottles worth pricing around for these though

Tried eBay? Or google shopping?

I'm using Kilner bottles and an own brand coloured version by homebase that were cheap in the sale in Sept.
I used old bottle green cordial bottles for the cordial I've already made.

i got some last year from ebay.. very small bottle like the mini drinks you get in the mni frisge in a hotel.. i think 6 cost me £8 or something along t house lines?

I ordered some from here last year - www.sen5esbottles.co.uk - was really impressed with the service, he was so helpful and didn't mind my very small scale order!

Thanks all. I've spent hours and hours looking on ebay, Amazon and ebay but all too expensive. zgaze that website looks cheapest I've found thanks.

Their prices include postage too! Brilliant site :)

Be aware with the Kilner bottles though....they are not cheap yet are not necessarily better than cheaper versions that you buy from discount stores, Ikea etc.

I bought Kilner bottles last year to make flavoured vodkas and stood a bottle in a sink of hot (not boiling, just tap hot) water to help dissolve the ingredients and the bottle cracked.
0.5litre of vodka down the drain

I emailed Kilner wondering if it had been a fault in the glass but they basically didn't want to know and said something about me putting it in boiling water etc. I hadn't put it in boiling water and, anyway, aren't you supposed to sterilise them in the oven etc when making preserves etc? As you can tell they pissed me off so I wouldn't recommend them!

I just bought 50 x 100ml glass bottles from that site for £29.99 including delivery. So pleased. Enough for all my vodka presents and to make some vanilla essence.

Yes Norbert I always sterilise glass bottles with boiling water or put them in the oven!! What a waste of vodka! The small kilner bottles cost more than the vodka going in them!!

Sainsburys value ketchup comes in a nice glass bottle

Exactly kateecass!

It was just the tone of their email that hacked me off. I realised that there was no point in arguing and pointing that out about the sterilising.

They clearly didn't give a toss which disappointed me as I'd always thought of them as being a reliable, quality brand. My Gran used them, my Mum used them (admittedly neither used them for flavoured vodka ) .... but they've lost my custom !

I am making Sloe Gin, but no way am I giving it away
OP I saw some pretty bottles and jars in Lakeland last week
www.lakeland.co.uk/p15584/Presentation-Bottles

Norbert I am with you on Kilner, bought one in Sainbury a few months ago, it cracked while I was sterilising it, I meant to take it back but DH binned it, but safe to say I will not be buying again.

I've had Lake land ones crack on me. The normally fab service just told me I should hit water sterilise . I love the jam jar shop for bottles and jars. Never let me down.

I've made some hawthorn brandy but again, I like it too much to give away so I'm going to be selfish!

That's good to know zebdee. My kids love ketchup!! I walked round the supermarket looking for suitable things! Saw salad dressing in nice bottles too, but thought it might smell funny.

Now just need to find cheap vanilla pods! Think Costco is good.

Oh and no way am I giving away sloe gin. I only managed to find a few sloes. But I have blackberry vodka and damson him and more damsons in the freezer :-)

..found these when I was looking for cheap bottles - haven't received them yet but they seem a good price

swing top bottles 500ml

Thanks lookover I've seen those in the shop. Too big for me but they look good. I've also asked a local cafe to save me some Fentemanns bottles so I'll probably keep my gin/ vodka in them when I take it out the Kilner jars.

that's interesting Indith maybe I will avoid.

jellyfl00d (love that name) tell me more about Hawthorne brandy

Oh fentimans bottles are a good idea

I always use the mini bottles of wine which are often on offer in the supermarket-obviously its a struggle having to drink them but I cope

Can I hijack and ask for advice on my sloe gin, since some of you seem to have experience in it (one to add to the cv)My berries are still intact floating at the bottom, should they start to disintegrate after a bit? Or do they stay like that?

My sloes are at the bottom. You are supposed to pick them after first frosts or put them in the freezer possibly to help break down the skins.

Mine are still at the bottom. I can never wait for first frost as the birds get them or something, they just seem to diminish in number.
Was the same as last year and still had lovely sloe gin at the end of it so I wouldn't worry Ruby

Oh thats good then, thanks. Should I strain them out? I made my gin up in the big ikea bottles

Yes, strain them out I think! I'm going to save them and see if I can get another lot out of them. Anyone know if it'll work?