DIY Gin Recipe

The first time I tried gin, I thought it tasted like an evil Christmas tree. That piney flavor I've since fallen in love with comes from juniper berries. Even though those little blue berries give gin its signature flavor, pretty much anything that comes from a plant can find its way into this spirit. Citrus zest, coriander seeds, cinnamon, anise, and licorice, along with various flowers, are among the more common botanicals used in making gin.

At this point, if I had to do a pie chart of the spirits in all my homemade cocktails, gin would be the biggest slice of the pie. It's a cocktail chameleon, bold in one drink yet subtle in the next. Because of the respect—nay, reverence—I have for gin, it felt like sacrilege to try to make my own. But I was naughty and did it anyway. And you know what? I liked it.

What's Available to Buy

Of course, you can easily find gin in any shop that sells liquor. Some boutique brands may be harder to get a hold of, but even the sketchiest liquor store and blandest big-box outlet will have a variety of gins. I have a boatload of gin in my bar, and my favorites change from month to month. Right now I find myself reaching for Bluecoat when mixing gin and tonics. Bluecoat is a bit in-your-face, with juniper upfront along with bold herbal and lemon flavors. Nolet's is light and very floral, with fruity notes that come alive when you mix with citrus. I've been loving this one for creative cocktails made with fresh fruit or preserves. For my French 75 and other Champagne cocktails, I've also been on a Hendrick's kick, which has a gentle character and hint of rose petals.

Why DIY?

When it comes down to it, gin is basically a neutral spirit flavored with juniper berries and a bunch of other stuff. In fact, while most gins undergo a second distillation, some companies do a more elaborate, commercial version of what happens in this recipe. (Technically, this recipe makes what's called compound gin. For more about how commercial gin is made, check out our guide to gin.)

While it might seem like putting a bunch of berries and herbs in vodka couldn't possibly result in a drinkable gin, you definitely can make a gin just as complex and delicious as what you'll find at the liquor store. I like to call it I Can't Believe It's Not Gin, even though that's selling it short because it does not taste like a substitute or compromise.

The best part about DIY gin is cherry-picking your favorite botanicals to make a gin with your ideal flavor profile. It's a low-effort way to geek out on something you love with ingredients you can find in any grocery store. It's easy and fun to create a variety of gins. I like floral notes like lavender and chamomile, but if you wanted to forgo those for bolder flavors like rosemary or cinnamon, go for it.

For a more intense juniper flavor, add more berries or simply let them steep longer. The gin will be a light amber color, instead of clear, because you're not running it through a still after the flavoring. But the color isn't dark enough to make mixed drinks look muddy. (Bartender Jeffrey Morgenthaler runs his homemade gin through a Brita-type pitcher several times to make it clear. Since his process and recipe are different, I'm not sure how that would affect my recipe.)

Use It!

Combine your gin with homemade tonic, for a G&T that you'd pay the big bucks for at a nice bar. Equally refreshing but with a little less bite, are the gin rickey and Tom Collins.

In addition to these essential gin cocktails, some other exciting ways to put your DIY gin to work include this fizzy gin and Lillet punch, an Aperol gin punch, a watermelon crawl, a Sergeant Pepper, or perhaps a frozen gin and tonic. Homemade gin really shines in drinks made with fresh ingredients.