This delicious homemade damson gin recipe is not only easy to make but it also makes a lovely gift - you just need to ensure you make it in enough time before you plan to give it.
It'll take you just a few minutes to put together this recipe once you've got everything prepared and ready. All you need to do is layer the fruit and sugar before topping generously with your favourite gin. We love Hendricks, but you can use any you'd prefer.
Be warned, if you're planning to enjoy some of this damson gin recipe, it'll be around 2-3 months before the mixture is ready to drink, as the flavours take time to come together, so plan ahead. If you want to enjoy this over the festive period or give it as one of your Christmas food gifts for example, then prepare your damson gin around October. For summer, prep this around March or April.
Method
- Instead of having to go through the necessary but tedious process of pricking the damsons with a darning needle, use thawed frozen fruit instead.
- Take 2 large sterilised Kilner jars and layer up the damsons and sugar between them, then pour over the gin.
- Give it all a good shake and leave in a cool, dark place for 2-3 months, remembering to shake weekly.
- Strain and bottle into sterilised bottles.
Homemade damson gin ingredients list:
- 500g (1lb 2oz) damsons
- 125g (4½oz) caster sugar
- 1 litre (1¾pt) gin
Top tip for making homemade damson gin
For the first week, shake the damson gin daily, after that, shake once a week - so make sure to keep it somewhere you'll see it and remember! After the 2-3 months wait is up, it will last for up to a year. We're sure you'll drink it long before the year is up, but be sure to add a date label just in case.
How to gift homemade damson gin
If you want to share the love, this homemade damson gin recipe would be the perfect gift for friends and family. As it's homemade, it's a present that'll be really appreciated by the gin-lover in your life, as making it yourself is so much more personal than grabbing a bottle from the shops.
Try decorating your bottles with some personalised labels or decoration, depending on who the gift is for. After all, it's the personal touches that really make a gift!
