It’s nearly six months now since I started telling you about our efforts with our first batch of damson gin, but now that I’m seeing this year’s blossom on the damson trees in our garden it’s got me thinking about how we can use this year’s harvest and I’m already hoping it’s a good one.
Back to the gin though…
We made two batches in the end and thought that we’d bottle up the first one in time for Christmas – both for us to sample some and also to make some homemade Christmas presents. This bathc must have had about four months in the kilner jar, so not as mature as it could have been, but deliciously potent all the same!
Due to a lack of clean muslin cloths we actually strained it through a clean tea-towel before bottling, but we figured that shouldn’t make much difference. For bottles I found these lovely presentation bottles online and in our new local Lakeland shop.
To finish the homemade look we also made some hand-drawn labels to adorn the bottles. I’m pleased to report that all the bottles we gave as Christmas gifts were well received and there were no reports of any ill effects either!
There’s a second batch still tucked away in a cupboard and bearing in mind that I can’t drink for a good few months yet I think it will be staying there for a fair while longer. If we get another good damson crop this year then I’ll definietely be making another batch as it is so easy to do. The question is what else we should try with the damson this time round?
I’d never heard of Damson Gin. Do you drink it on its own or mixed?
I personally like it neat, which is how I also like sloe gin, but Mr C is rather partial to having it with tonic as a nice alternative to a normal GT.
Going to try damson gin next year – been doing sloe gin for the last few years
Also thinking of bottling some – found a lovely recipe for a cake that needs bottled damsons
Bring on elderflowers and cordial and champagne making!
Not done anything with elderflowers before, but definitely want to. Always preferred damson gin over sloe and really was inspired to try this as buying damson gin seems to get harder and harder. Just wish I could properly indulge in drinking it!
That looks and sounds delicious!