How about a dry month, anyone?
You know me and I’m all in for a good cocktail on a Friday afternoon and now that a good amount of people did “dry January” I thought I should give “Dry February” a try but not without having some ammunition first.
Today I’m making Alcohol-Free gin, one you can use to mix with sparkling water, lemonade or hibiscus water and still feel you’re having a cocktail just without the buzz.
Why gin? Well, not only because it’s the easiest to make as the real gin in just infused alcohol! But because it is versatile and a crowd pleaser in my book.
Ingredients
1 sprig of fresh rosemary
3 tbsp dry juniper berries
2 tbsp coriander seeds
1 tbsp of orange zest
1 tsp of dry roses, optional
1 tsp lavender
1 mexican cinamon stick
750 ml hot water (175 F hot, as if you're making tea)
Patience
A glass container, I am reusing a gin bottle, washed
Procedure
Use a large container to add all spices and water, mix to hydrate spices, cover and let it sit for 36 hours over the counter or in the fridge. You are basically infusing the water, making some GOOD tea.
Give the infusion a mix every 12 hours.
After 35 hours, strain the liquid and pour into your glass bottle. You can store this in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
You will be surprise how gin-like the taste is! But also be mindful that this is an alcohol-free version so do not expect to taste like the real thing. I made a quick gin and tonic to test and I LOVED it! When it comes to proportions, I would say you will have to add 1/2 oz of alcohol-free gin to your cocktail of preference to make it work. That’s it!
Salud!