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Rose-infused alcohol – how to make vodka and gin with roses
I have made a recipe for rose-infused gin and vodka.
Infused just means that the roses soak in liquid until the flavour is extracted from the rose petals and into the chosen liquid.
The liquid can be cold water, tea (cold brewed or hot), vodka, gin or schnapps…
Here I’ve chosen gin and vodka.
This recipe is fast because the roses don’t have to infuse in alcohol for that long.
And that is one of the reasons it’s my summer go-to recipe.
You can make rose-infused alcohol in a couple of days – and be ready for a summer holiday long drink or a “Yay, it’s the weekend” cocktail…
Go to the rose gin and vodka recipe or read on.
Rose-infused liquor – alcohol with a mild taste of roses
Rose-flavoured alcohol started out as an experiment.
I wanted to make a rose extract for cakes and desserts – and vodka is a neutral choice.
But I only use my rose vodka for cocktails because the rose flavour is too subtle to use as an extract, so I still use rose syrup or rose water for desserts.
And I made a rose-infused gin as well – I love gin.
For many years, our “go-to” drink has been the G&T.
Bo has joined a gin club, so he has previously bought a lot of different types of gin, including cucumber, African herbs, and Scottish herbs flavours.
Now we have a rose gin in the collection – and a rhubarb gin, a lavender gin, a blackcurrant gin, a raspberry-orange gin…
I’ve made more bottles of rose gin than I’ve made rose vodka.
Because our favourite cocktail this year is with gin, a “Rose Gin Hass” – my version of the Danish “Gin Hass” cocktail.
It tastes so good that I have to make extra rose gin – so we can share the cocktail with friends.
We have a large bottle of rose vodka from last year – so it just needs to be supplemented with an extra small bottle…
Both rose vodka and rose gin are great for long drinks and cocktails.
Roses, Roses and Roses
We have a summer house by the North Sea, and it is (almost) surrounded by rosehip bushes.
So, I always make several bottles of rose syrup – and a batch of rose sugar or four.
And for the last couple of years, I’ve also been making rose-infused gin and vodka.
I haven’t tried with other fragrant roses, but they work in rose syrup – so give it a try.
Making infused gin and vodka is quite simple.
You need a lot of rose(hip) petals, clean, dry and without bugs.
If I have washed the rose petals, I put them in a clean towel and pat them as dry as possible.
You need them dry because you don’t want to dilute your alcohol beforehand.
If you have picked rose petals in the rain, they must be cleaned.
I find all kinds of beetles and small crawlers stuck to rain-soaked rose petals…
If you have picked them in a dry place where you don’t need to wash the roses, you just remove spiders, earwigs, snails, etc.
You probably don’t want earwig-infused vodka…
Alcohol
I use gin and vodka with an alcohol percentage of 40.
If I had found alcohol with a higher percentage, I might have used it as alcohol preserves.
And the shelf life is longer the higher the alcohol percentage…
– or by adding LOTS of sugar, and that’s a different matter.
I always used Beefeater gin 40% and Absolut vodka 40%. (I am not sponsored.)
Because that’s what I could find with 40% the first time I made infused alcohol at the summer house – from brands I knew.
They both gave a good result, so I’m sticking with them.
You can use whatever brands you like best if they are neutral in taste.
If you have a neutral snap of 40%, you can use that too.
Your schnapps must be completely neutral in taste unless you want to make spiced schnapps.
Then you can use schnapps, or vodka, with citrus, rhubarb, elderflower…
How to make rose gin and rose vodka
First, you need one or more mason jars – ensure they are the correct size.
They must be sterile, completely clean, and dried so the water does not dilute the alcohol.
I recommend you use a jar slightly larger than the amount of alcohol you use – and fill it COMPLETELY to the brim with alcohol.
I always end up with a mason jar that is too big…
Mostly because I take the jars we have in the summer house.
Then I make various solutions to keep the roses down in the liquid.
Next time I’ll have to remember to make a double batch immediately…
The colour disappears relatively quickly from the rose petals.
If you have a large jar that isn’t full and nothing to hold the rose petals down in the alcohol, the rose petals at the top will oxidize and turn brown.
Then it is better to use several small jars which are filled completely.
It’s fast and easy to make rose gin and rose vodka.
You can settle for 3-4 days or let your rose infuse for longer.
I have tried up to 10 days with a gin infusion – and 14 days with vodka.
And further, with an experimental rum – it still infusing, and I’m not impressed.
Once your rose vodka/gin has finished infusing, you must strain it.
First, I do a coarse sifting to sift out the rose petals – here, I use a regular mesh sieve to remove the petals.
Then I pour the alcohol through a filter.
I use a coffee filter to remove any remains – you decide whether you want to.
Then it is time to pour the rose alcohol into bottles.
You can use the bottle you bought the alcohol in – it makes it easier to see if it’s rose gin or rose vodka.
Rose gin and rose vodka take on the same amber-gold colour that changes slightly over time.
You can also pour your homemade vodka/gin into a special bottle and label it.
A homemade – or printed label gives rose gin and rose vodka that extra touch.
What can you use your rose-infused gin/vodka for?
You can use your rose-infused alcohol immediately in your summer cocktails – or save your rose gin/vodka for later in the season.
If you do, save a few bottles of rose syrup too…
You can make a classic G&T.
Use rose gin, a good tonic, preferably a few rose petals – if it’s in season.
If you experiment with adding a little rose syrup, I recommend using a more bitter tonic, e.g., a pink grapefruit tonic.
Of course, you can make a long drink with rose vodka, tonic and syrup.
You can find long drinks and cocktails on the internet made from a mix of alcohol, rose liqueur and simple syrup.
You can quickly turn those recipes into cocktails with rose gin/vodka and rose syrup.
It’s just experimenting – a project for the summer holiday…?
I must admit that one drink was on repeat last summer – it was a rose gin cocktail.
The Rose Gin Hass has been tested and approved – also by friends and colleagues.
I’ve mixed some cocktails with vodka; they need more testing before I give you those recipes.
If you make a long drink – or cocktail, try adding the rose-infused alcohol first, and then add lemon juice or lime juice.
It’s magic.
What can the rose petals be used for?
I haven’t figured that out yet…
Plenty of flavours are left in the rose petals – and a good amount of alcohol.
If you look at the two gin bottles, with and without roses, there is less gin in the rose-infused bottle.
So the rose petals must be usable in a recipe.
I have alcohol-filled rose petals in the freezer, waiting for a good idea.
If you have suggestions, please comment so others (and I) can use your ideas.
You can also share your thoughts and recipes with alcohol-infused rose petals, rose gin and rose vodka on Instagram; tag your photos with @danish.things and tag them #danishthings
– it’s always exciting to see what you come up with.
How to make rose-infused alkohol
Rose-infused liquor – how to make vodka and gin with roses
Redskaber - Equipment
- 1 large mason jar - or several small ones
- Mesh sieve
- Coffee filters
- Funnel
- Bottle(s)
Ingredienser - Ingredients
- 60-65 g rosehip rose petals - or petals from other fragrant roses
- 70 cl 40% alcohol - vodka or gin - 70 cl = 1 bottle in Denmark
Instructions
- Put the petals in a completely clean and dry mason jar. Pour alcohol over and stir.
- Let the roses infuse in alcohol for at least 3-4 days. Shake the mason jar daily.
- After 3-4 days, taste the rose alcohol; if you like it, read on; otherwise, let the roses infuse for up to 10-14 days, tasting it daily. Write your thoughts in the "Egne notater - private notes" field for next time.
- Remove the rose petals and filter the liquid through a (coffee) filter.
- You can use your infused alcohol right away or save it for later.
Notes
Egne noter - private notes
Bruger du US Customary, vær opmærksom på, at opskriften er lavet metrisk, og omregnet via et plugin.
If you use US Customary, remember that the recipe is made using Metric and converted via a plugin.