Any Christmas gift received is a true blessing, but gifts that come with a personal touch can warm our hearts just a little bit more than the rest.
DrinkManila.com invites you to try out two of these Homemade Infused Spirit recipes to help you level up the holiday tradition of giving loved ones and friends only the finest spirits on the merriest, most festive time of the year.
Visit DrinkManila.com for other great beverage ideas for the holiday season.
Basil and Strawberry Infused Vodka
Vodka is the most common spirit used for infusions. Clear and smooth, it absorbs herbs and fruit flavors well. The vodka with strawberry and basil will have a sweet, fruity taste mixed with an herbal tone from basil. Interestingly, the strawberry will lose its color, imparting its pinkish tone to the spirit and making the finished product resemble a color of a light rosé (minus the bubbles).
For this infusion’s complete recipe, click here.
(A thoughtful holiday surprise in a glass | Photo from DrinkManila.com)
Lemon, Pepper, and Rosemary Infused Gin
Gin is a great spirit to use for herbal infusions, as herbs naturally complement the botanicals already present in gin. For this creation, the gin infused with lemon peel, rosemary and peppercorn will have a cool citrus taste and a spicy finish. The rosemary’s aromatic notes make the infusion smell like Christmas in a bottle!
Learn how to make this uniquely festive concoction here.
(Like Christmas in a bottle | Photo from DrinkManila.com)
Tips and tricks to remember
- There are different herbs, spices and fruits you can use for infusions. Feel free to get creative, but remember that there are still guidelines to consider to ensure that your combinations turn out as delicious as they can be. Start by looking at the different kinds of flavored vodka out there to get a sense of what goes well with it, then continue from there.
- Store your infusion in a cool, dark place and shake it three to five times a day for the duration of the infusion.
- On average, the ingredients should stay in the liquor for three to five days.
(Different ingredients can be used to create unique infusions | Photo from DrinkManila.com)
- The infusion times differ based on the flavors you put in; the more intense, spicy flavors need a shorter time (like hot peppers, which infuse faster) than mild flavors that you can infuse for two weeks (like pineapple, ginger and lemongrass). Intense herbs and spices like rosemary, mint, cinnamon and vanilla beans can be left in the container for around three days, while moderate flavors like mangoes, strawberries and melons can be left for a week.
- You will need to do a taste test every day to see if the spirit has the flavors you want. You don’t want to over-infuse your spirit, as you might not be able to enjoy it.
- Make small batches at first (don’t use a whole bottle just for one infusion), and take meticulous notes on infusion times and what you’ve put in. This will help you once you’ve found the combination you’ve been looking for.
- DrinkManila.com recommends using a mid-range spirit for this project, since infusing top-shelf liquor is impractical and expensive (infusions will mask the spirit’s natural taste, which you are paying for). On other hand, no amount of infusing can elevate low-quality booze, so choose a decent spirit that will allow the flavors to shine.
(The finished products | Photo from DrinkManila.com)
