Do Your Gin Instructions

Before you start

What’s in the box

2 ×Glass bottles, 350 ml each

10 ×Hand-selected botanicals

1 ×Funnel

2 ×Filter papers

What you’ll need

A good-quality wheat vodka

15 minutes of your time

Something missing from your kit? Write to us — we’ll fix it right away.

How it works

Three steps

Tap a step number to check it off as you go. Your progress is saved on this device.

Soak the juniper

The base of your gin is a clear, neutral alcohol — a good vodka is perfect, because vodka is made from wheat, just like the alcohol used to make gin. Lightly crush the juniper berries so they release their aroma, pour them into a bottle with the funnel, and add 350 ml vodka.

This slow, cold soaking is what bartenders call macerating.

Let it rest for 24 hoursAt least one day — the juniper needs time.

Add your botanicals

After 24 hours, it’s time to make it your own. We’ve put together three recipes to show you the amounts — or mix your own blend. Crushing the seeds and pods first helps them release more flavour.

Feel free to add flavours from your kitchen too: basil, rosemary, fennel, chilli, lemon peel or ginger.

Let it rest another 24 hoursThen it’s time to filter your gin.

Filter, chill, sign

Pour your gin through the funnel with a filter paper to remove the botanicals. You can taste it right away — but for the best flavour, let it rest in the fridge for at least 12 more hours. Then design your label and sign your batch.

Your gin isn’t distilled, so it keeps its natural colour — that’s a good sign, not a fault.

12 hours in the fridgeOptional, but worth the wait.

To give you an idea of the quantities

Three recipes

Each recipe is made for one bottle of 350 ml vodka. Use them as a starting point — get creative and make the gin your own.

The SpiritedPeppery and bold

Juniper berries1½ test tubes
Green cardamom1 pod
Cubeb pepper3 peppercorns
Coriander seeds½ tsp
Laurel½ tsp
Pink pepper10 peppercorns

The TraditionalClassic London Dry character

Juniper berries2 test tubes
Green cardamom2 pods
Licorice¼ tsp
Coriander seeds½ tsp
Orange peel½ tsp

The ColourfulFloral, with a pink glow

Juniper berries1 test tube
Green cardamom1 pod
Coriander seeds¼ tsp
Orange peel½ tsp
Lavender flowers1 hint
Hibiscus flowers1 tsp

Get to know them

Your botanicals

Juniperus communisJuniperpiney and slightly bitter — the heart of every gin

Elettaria cardamomumGreen cardamomsweet and spicy, from the ginger family

Coriandrum sativumCorianderwarm and nutty, with hints of ginger and lemon

Piper cubebaCubeb peppersharp and fresh, a little like eucalyptus

Laurus nobilisLaurelgentle and spicy, a little like nutmeg

Lavandula angustifoliaLavenderstrong scent — use just a little

Glycyrrhiza glabraLicoricesweet root with a classic licorice taste

Citrus × sinensisOrange peela bright, familiar citrus note

Schinus terebinthifoliusPink pepperfruity and sweet, softer than black pepper

HibiscusHibiscus flowertart and fruity — turns your gin pink

Want more botanicals? Discover our Premium Botanicals sets and keep your bar experimenting. Visit the shop →

The reward

Serve it

Your gin, your tonic

Fill a glass to the top with ice — more ice melts slower and keeps your drink colder.
Peel a strip of lemon zest (organic, unwaxed) and drop it in for the citrus oils.
Pour your gin over the ice so it picks up the aromas on the way down.
Top up with a good tonic — 1 part gin to 2–3 parts tonic is a solid starting point.

Sip sip, hurray!

Good to know

Questions

My gin has colour or looks cloudy — is that normal?

Completely normal — it’s just how this method works. Your gin is soaked, not distilled, so it keeps the natural colour of the botanicals. Hibiscus even turns it pink on purpose.

Which vodka should I buy?

A good-quality wheat vodka. Wheat is also what the alcohol in conventional gin production is made from, so it gives you the most authentic base. It doesn’t need to be expensive — neutral and clean is what matters.

Can I leave the botanicals in longer?

The recipes are made for 24 hours. Taste is personal, though — you can filter earlier for a lighter flavour. Just remember that strong botanicals like lavender can take over quickly.