Gin

[carlo]

Has anyone found a good gin Essence. Have you tried the Prestige Bombay gin or the Prestige English Dry Gin.
thanks

[olddog]

I make mine with juniper berries and other herbs using the vapor infusion method, it turns out better than any essence.


OD

[kiwistiller]

essencia isn't too bad but it's so easy to make, and you'll outperform it by following any of the recipes on this site.

[blanikdog]

I make mine with juniper berries and other herbs using the vapor infusion method, it turns out better than any essence.OD

+1

blanik

[leiothrix]

For essences - i recommend Samuel Willards gin.

For 1 700mL bottle use 16 2/3 essence (i.e. the recommended dose). Fill with neutral. Then add 6 dried juniper berries and let it sit for a couple of weeks.

I don't have a pot still as yet and this makes a pretty decent gin.

[birdwatcher]

Have a good day all. My post follows.

G

[birdwatcher]

G

[birdwatcher]

The following is from John Stones book http://www.gin-vodka.com/making-gin.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Juniper berries 35 grams
cardamon 1 gram
orris root 1 gram
coriander 1 gram
lemon zest 1/2 lemon

Avoid including any of the white of the lemon, just the yellow zest.

Break up the juniper berries in a coffee bean grinder.

Place these ingredients in a flask and add 350 ml of water. Bring to a boil. The steam generated will carry, over into the condenser, the oils contained in the botanical s. The oils can be seen as little droplets or globules in the collection bottle.

Collect about 75 ml in one bottle and another 75 ml in a second bottle. the flavor will be slightly better in the first bottle.

To each bottle add an equal volume of 95% alcohol. This will dissolve the droplets of oil and act as a preservative.

To create a bottle of gin add 10 ml of your essence to a liter of vodka.

You will need a simple stove top pot still for the above. Instructions to make are contained in the above book which I highly recommend to anyone interested in making their own equipment for the creation of ethanol.

You could steep the ingredients in a 50:50 alcohol/water mixture, but distillation gives a superior product.

Enjoy.

G

[ol'blue]

contrary to poular belief Gin is not difficult to make. it might take you a couple goes to get the mix you like but the basics are simple.

I've usually make Gin with the masceration method, its simpler, but vapor infusion can bring out subtlties that would otherwise be lost.

also your base alcohol is important in making gin. I find grain alcohols much more suited for Gin than sugar wash.

[bassinjason]

Where do you buy juniper berries and the other ingredients to put in the still column?

[kiwistiller]

I buy some from a specialist spice and herb shop, and some I gather and grow. depending on where you are there are some pretty good online retailers.

[blanikdog]

dunno about the US - or anywhere else for that matter - but in Oz they are in the spice section of almost any supermarket.

blanik

[birdwatcher]

Any good health food store.

G