There's nothing more lovely than a homemade Christmas gifts. Except boozy homemade Christmas gifts. They're the best gifts of all! Way to say ''look how much I care about you and your blood alcohol levels", gift-giving readers.Need some inspiration for some booze presents? Here's a round up of our top recipes. Some will take a while, so don't leave it too long. Get yourself some nice bottles and wrap up your booze treats with a massive red bow and give along with our cut out and keep cocktail guide.
Limoncello. It's a classic, and it's really really easy to make yourself. Your friends and family will be dead impressed, without realising that you've been finished with your Christmas presents for ages.
Rhubarb and custard vodka. Know someone with a sweet tooth? This is the drink for them. The same process can be repeated with most boiled sweets. Except Cola Cubes, weirdly.
Sloe gin. Not a website to do things by halves, we've got two different sloe gin recipes. One traditional, one with added damson goodies.
Blackberry rum. OK, I know some of you don't like gin, so how about making blackberry rum instead.
Bacon bourbon. Yeah, that's right. Definitely not suitable for vegetarians. Pin this bacon old fashioned recipe to your gifts.
And it's not just the booze you can give as gifts...
Rhubarb and vanilla syrup. Sweet, sugary and just as tasty with soda as it is with gin.
Gingerbread syrup. This is probably meant for hot chocolate. Not any more! It's going over my ice cream, in my rum, all over my face.
Elderflower Cordial. You're going to have a hard time finding elderflowers at the moment, but I'm hoping some of you will have a batch hidden away in the freezer. Trust me, you'll be very happy once you know how to make this. We put it in all sorts of cocktails and treats. Elderflower martini jelly, anyone? Shortbread? Or, you could make an elderflower and lavender syrup.
Rose hip syrup. This is definitely best friends with gin. Watch out for the thorns!
UPDATE: we forgot our Christmas pudding vodka! Go on, go and make some of that as well.
See more of our top ten recipes posts!
just bottled my limoncello today (thanks for the recipe all those weeks ago!). can't stand the stuff, so I can confirm that it's suitably disgusting (a friend tells me it tastes just right though :-)
ReplyDeleteI've made the blackberry rum in October and am excited about cracking into it at Christmas time (erm... yep, not gifting it but guzzling it!). What would you recommend I mix it with? I'm sure some of it will get drunk neat but it would be nice to have a tall drink to sip on too I think. Thanks for all these amazing recipes!
ReplyDeleteI make a cracking blackberry and apple daiquiri with mine, just shake the blackberry rum with some cloudy apple juice a big squeeze of lime and plenty of ice and enjoy :)
DeleteI think you've forgotten the obligatory Irish Cream recipe!!!
ReplyDeleteThese links go back to our own recipes, we'd rather drink Bailey's straight from the bottle.
Deletehttp://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/8025/spiced-arancello
ReplyDeleteGreat list. In my job I'm lucky enough to get some lovely christmas presents - but what do you give the Man who has everything? 5 years ago I discovered the above recipe and it's been a great success year after year - properly Christmassy - though possibly a bit tight to get it in for this year. I made hazelnut and Orange Biscotti (try this recipe: http://heatherhomemade.com/2012/02/biscotti/)to go with it - lovely gift, effort shown and not too taxing on either skills or the bank account!
I gave Rhubarb and Custard Vodka last year - saved myself a bottle and drank it in the summer - long with ice and lemonade - wonderful!
I really love the rhubarb and custard vodka - it's way too sweet on its own, but works really well with tonic.
DeleteWhere do you recommend getting bottles from? I know Lakeland but I was wondering if you knew anywhere else.
ReplyDeleteUnless you need to store in something airtight, you can always use the bottles the booze was in - just soak the labels off and make your own.
DeleteAh I was thinking something a little more decorative that someone could keep.
DeleteTKMaxx usually have good cheap ones that look pretty and Asda sometimes do them around this time of year but I usually stock up at Ikea
DeleteJamjarshop.com have some good deals on bulk packaging - jars, bottles etc.
DeleteI've been doing limoncello like for ages for relatives and friends alike. Time to come with something new... your list gives some great and tempting choices. Thumbs up!
ReplyDelete