Making your own gin at home

How to create your own gin at home

If you’ve taken part in one of the experiences at The City of Aberdeen Distillery, you might want to try making a bottle of your own gin at home. This is incredibly straightforward and, in most countries, perfectly legal provided you use duty-paid alcohol (please check your local laws).

1. The Container: Start with a clean glass container—a sealable mason jar is ideal, but any airtight glass vessel works well.

2. The Base Spirit: Your base alcohol must be decent quality. The easiest source is a bottle of Vodka (approx. 40% ABV). If you're starting with a higher strength spirit like 96% ABV, it is essential to dilute it first.

3. The Botanicals: The star of the show is Juniper. You’ll need about a small handful. Follow this with Coriander seed (roughly half the amount of your Juniper).

4. Customising: Add around 5 other botanicals (1–2 grams each). Be careful with potent ingredients like Star Anise; they can quickly overwhelm the profile.

5. The Infusion: Combine your Vodka and botanicals in the jar and let them rest for about 14 days. Sample a small amount every few days. Once you're happy with the flavor, pass the liquid through a fine sieve.

Note: Your gin will have a natural amber tint—this is perfectly normal for "bathtub" or compound gin and won't affect the taste once mixed!

Have fun, and remember: drink less, drink better 😊