Lemon Gin Recipe.
Posted by Fiona Nevile in Liqueurs | 49 comments
Lemons for lemon gin
I went to New Zealand for the first time over 30 years ago and Lemon Gin was the pre dinner tipple in one of the houses that we visited. It came in gallon jars and was served neat in small tumblers. This was the first time I’d seen anyone pouring out drinks from such a large container. In this particular house the lemon gin jar doubled as a doorstop in the kitchen during the day.
I forgot all about lemon gin until my sister and I got into making sloe gin. We had made a heady investment of a case of gin and, after picking a vast sack full of sloes in freezing cold winds, decided to find another use for the remaining bottles. My sister found an old recipe for lemon gin; this stated that it would take three years to mature. I must admit I wasn’t keen on waiting three years.
My sister persuaded me to experiment. I did, after all, have five litres of sloe gin to see me through the long gap. I also liked the idea of travelling with a bottle of lemon gin in the boot of my car for three years (see method below).
We made a bottle each and, after a few months of rolling about in the boot of my car, I moved my bottle to the cottage larder where it slipped behind an old mixer and was forgotten. Four years later it was discovered and retrieved by a tall boyfriend who spent a lot of time in the larder as this was one of the few places that he could stand up in the cottage. The lemon peel had totally vanished. The liqueur was unbelievably good. A Dom Pérignon leap from the NZ brew. I hate to admit it but this is better than sloe gin and at least one notch up from our raspberry gin.
When Danny arrived the remains of the lemon gin had been buried again. A couple of years ago he unearthed and secretly sampled it (this was an eleven year old vintage). He rushed upstairs, woke me up and insisted that lemon gin must be made every year from now on, in vast quantities.
If you are patient, have a surfeit of gin or want to produce something exceptional for best friends that drop by, try this recipe. It’s well worth the wait.
| Lemon Gin Recipe. |
- 1 litre bottle of medium quality gin – supermarket own brands are good
- 200 g white granulated sugar
- 3 unwaxed lemons (just the rind, avoiding the pith)
- Make space in the bottle for the sugar and lemon by pouring off at least 200 ml of gin (reserve this).
- Gently pare the lemon rind from the lemon. Be really careful to avoid the bitter pith (at a pinch use a zester – although the results are not nearly as good).
- Add the peel to the bottle.
- Using a funnel add the sugar to the gin and shake well.
- Top up the bottle with the reserved gin. Find a use for the surplus (I usually mix myself a large gin and tonic at this stage).
- Label the bottle. Wrap it well (bubble wrap is ideal) and place securely in the boot of your car (The alcohol will not allow the bottle to freeze completely in cold weather).
- Drive the car hard for three years.
- Remove the bottle. Taste and taste again.
Tips and Tricks:
If you make this every year, within three years you will have lemon gin available annually. Danny has just told me that we have passed the two year mark.
Put an ingredients label on your jar so as to be able to recreate a particularly good vintage. Use decorators tape as this generally peels off easily and can be passed from jar to jar.
Don’t use the cheapest gin. You might not live to regret it.
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Thanks so much. I made it yesterday and have put it in the boot for the winter. I’l take it out in March & put it on top of my ancient fridge it makes a fine old noise so I’m sure it’s vibrating lots too.
Can’t wait for the three years to pass!
By the way – any good recipes to use up the lemons? I made marmalade, lemon curd and lemon squash yesterday. I just can’t bear to throw the lemons away but am running out of ideas for preserving them. Today I’m going to make preserved lemons (Moroccon type) and some candied lemon peel. After that I’m stuck!
Clare
Hello Clare
Lucky you with seven carrier bags of lemons!
The boot of the car method is only for those living in the northern hemisphere. You need to find something with a variable vibration. Such as a fridge or freezer. The thermostat turning on and off will give the gentlest shake to your grog. Don’t leave it sitting on a steady shelf for three years.
The car boot is perfect although less dramatic places work equally well.
I live in Cyprus and one of our lemon tree branches broke this morning (overloaded with fruit). I now have 7 large carrier bags of lemons and, while searching for something to do with them, came across this fantastic site. I love the idea of lemon gin but am concerned about keeping it in the boot of the car. The temp here can be as high as 46C – not good for the gin I wouldn’t have thought. Any suggestion for an alternative storage place?
Great site. Thanks.
Clare
Hi Graeme
Thanks for dropping by!
Hello Mary
Well done winning best in show! I’m impressed.
Hi Loubi
Mine is in an insulated box in the boot of the car. It stays in there whatever the weather.
I haven’t made raspberry gin for years and am about to this afternoon. Love the sound of the lemon gin; will try that too!
Do you need to take the gin out of the car when the weather is hot??
Hi
I made some of this Lemon Gin last year, and although it was only 1 year old i entered a small bottle of it in a local show. i am delighted to report it beat of over 30 other bottles to win first prize. Just imagine how much better it will be after another 2 years!
I am going to try lemon vodka this year as i have just found a bottle of vodka in the cupboard and have used the last of the gin to make elderberry gin.
Thanks for a fantastic recipe 🙂
One year down – two to go!
I just hope I don’t have the car nicked or written off in the meantime!
Lazy Joe, it’s all in the name really isn’t it!? I think you’ve totally missed the point!
Hi Lazy Joe
Glad to hear that some people are still buying liqueurs from the shops!
Silly Limey’s. Why wait 3 years of you can purchase your liquors at a good shop? Instant inebriation, no waiting, no muss, no fuss. Silly Brit’s.
Hi Geo
Put the bottles in the boot of your car. They need a gentle shake on and off for the first few months. If they are in your boot you don’t have to think about it and you do not risk cartilage damage. A shake every now and then, when you remember won’t do.
You are very lucky to have your own grapes for winemaking. I recommend 2 books – Daphne Moore (Country Winemaking) and Gillian Pearks (Complete Home Winemaking). The latter is out of print but worth buying at any price.