Juniper vodka: homemade recipe

Juniper vodka is a pleasant-tasting and aromatic drink. This is not only a relaxing alcohol, but also, if used wisely, a medicine that can be prepared at home from berries collected with your own hands. By following all stages of the technological process, you will be able to prepare a balm within the walls of a household kitchen, which is popular among connoisseurs of quality alcohol.

What is juniper vodka called?

Juniper vodka is a fairly popular drink, but many people know it as “Dutch gin.” The alcoholic tincture is the brainchild of Danish manufacturers. The original is vodka with a dense consistency and intense aroma.

During the manufacturing process, juniper berries, along with other ingredients, are immersed in grain mash before distillation.Alternatively, the essential oils can be extracted from the plant mixture.

Strong juniper gin is popular throughout the world and is served in bars chilled without additional additives or in small quantities as an ingredient for cocktails.

The benefits and harms of juniper tincture with vodka

Juniper vodka is a strong alcoholic drink, therefore, the benefits of its use are possible only with reasonable use. By using homemade tincture for medicinal purposes, you can experience first-hand its following healing properties:

• tonic;
• eliminating inflammation;
• regenerating;
• antiseptic;
• antirheumatic;
• antispasmodic;
• sedative;
• diuretic;
• expectorant;
• bronchodilator.

Juniper tincture is used to treat toothache, liver and lung diseases. It is effective for dermatological pathologies (scabies, dermatitis). Homemade alcohol made with juniper berries helps cope with coughs, bronchitis, and asthmatic attacks. With minor deviations from the norm, vodka made from the fruits of the fragrant shrub can normalize blood pressure.

Alcohol tincture has a wide spectrum of action. It is effective for external use, and can also be taken orally for therapeutic purposes. Juniper vodka eliminates the symptoms of a cold and is used for inhalation. For hematomas, compresses are made from the tincture. By adding the drink to your bath, you can relieve the first signs of neuralgia and depression.

Like any substance with medicinal properties, juniper berry tincture has a list of contraindications that should be taken into account so as not to cause irreparable harm to health. You should not drink strong drink in the following cases:

• diseases of the digestive system (ulcers, erosions, gastritis, acute colitis);
• for inflammatory processes in the kidneys and other pathologies of the organ (glomerulonephritis, nephrosis, nephritis);
• during the period of gestation;
• when breastfeeding;
• if there is an sensitivity to the components or an allergy to herbs;
• when diagnosed with alcoholism;
• if there is a history of serious pathologies of the nervous system.

Juniper tincture is used with particular caution to treat children and the elderly.

How to make juniper vodka at home

Juniper vodka is prepared from the berries of the plant. If you want to prepare a strong drink at home, you need to understand that not all varieties are suitable for use for food purposes.

The fruits of the Kozatsky bush contain sabine oil in the structure of the berries, which is essentially toxic and dangerous to human life. Once in the body, the substance can negatively affect kidney function, cause spontaneous abortion, and lead to fainting.

In order to prepare homemade juniper tincture with the taste of real gin, the choice is made of the fruits of the common juniper. They are considered the most successful solution and have blue or blue-brown berries with a coating.

Signs that the bush is suitable for the production of vodka and tinctures are as follows:

• number of seeds in the berry - 3 pieces;
• absence of a pronounced smell of turpentine;
• The leaves of the common juniper bush resemble needles.

If prickly juniper bushes with rich red-brown berries grow on the site, a drink can be made from them. They are also available for purchase at pharmacy chains.

Some people are interested in performing all stages of juniper vodka production with their own hands. This is what pushes people to independently “hunt” for raw materials. Before picking berries in park areas or city limits, you need to know some nuances:

1. The collection of juniper fruits should be carried out away from industrial centers, roads, and places of active human activity.
2. The harvest is considered suitable for use only after complete ripening - they are oriented by color.
3. When drying the collection, all conditions should be provided (canopy, dry, ventilated room).

To ensure that the juniper tincture is of good quality with a pleasant aftertaste, strong alcohol is used in the manufacturing process:

• vodka with excellent characteristics;
• pre-diluted ethyl alcohol;
• double purified moonshine without fusel oils and odor.

To enhance the taste and give special notes to the drink, you can add the following ingredients to the raw material:

• sugar, honey, fructose;
• spices and seasonings;
• medicinal fees;
• almonds or walnuts;
• citrus zest.

The recipes for making juniper vodka are identical, but each housewife has her own twist, adding which she gets something special and unique.

Tincture of juniper berries with vodka

It is not difficult to prepare a berry tincture if you follow the instructions. To prepare a homemade drink you will need:

• dried juniper berries - 10 pcs.;
• good quality vodka - 500 ml;
• lemon zest - from half the fruit;
• granulated sugar or honey - depending on preference;
• water - if necessary (100 ml).

Before preparing a tincture of juniper berries with vodka, select the base of the required strength. After the berries release essential oils, adding water is not advisable, as this action can lead to cloudiness of the drink. Adding sugar is considered optional, but its presence in the recipe softens the taste, and the citrus zest adds a touch of freshness.

Step by step recipe:

1. Juniper fruits are crushed, placed in containers for aging, and poured with vodka.
2. The zest of pre-washed lemon is added to the main ingredients.
3. The container is sealed and infused for 2 weeks at room temperature without access to sunlight.
4. Every 3 days the jar is shaken, so the berries better release their beneficial properties.
5. The finished concentrate is filtered and the berries are slightly squeezed.
6. Add sugar to the finished drink to taste and, if necessary, water.

After going through all the stages of preparation, the juniper drink is bottled and stored under a tightly closed lid. When adding sweeteners, the drink must be kept in the cold to stabilize the taste.

Juniper root bark tincture

A medicinal tincture can be prepared from juniper bark and roots.This composition has a powerful therapeutic effect. Taking 30 ml half an hour before meals for 60 days can smooth out the symptoms of kidney stones and even dissolve stones.

To prepare you will need:

• juniper bark and roots - a glass filled to the top (100 g);
• good quality vodka - 400 ml.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. The medicinal mixture is poured into a container for infusion.
2. Fill a 0.5 liter jar with vodka to the top and close tightly.
3. Maintain without access to light at room temperature for 14 days.
4. Shake the container every 3 days.

The result is a tincture that resembles the color of strongly brewed tea.

Tincture of juniper berries with alcohol

To feel the aftertaste of heady gin, you should use alcohol. To prepare an alcoholic tincture of juniper with such an unusual taste you will need:

• juniper berries -25 g;
• alcohol with a concentration of 96% - 610 g;
• coriander - 3 tsp;
• cumin - 2 tsp.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. The alcohol is poured into two containers (330 and 280 g).
2. 70 ml of water is poured into most of it, berries are added - juniper alcohol is prepared.
3. To the smaller part, where there is 60 ml of water, add coriander and cumin.
4. The two compositions are kept in a dark place for 5 days, periodically shaking vigorously.
5. Both mixtures are filtered separately and each volume is increased 1.5 times by adding water.
6. Liquids should also be distilled autonomously until 260 g evaporate from each volume.
7. Only at this stage are the two compositions combined and boiled water (1 liter) is added.

Before tasting, the drink must be left to steep for a week in a cold place.

Juniper leaf tincture

Alternative medicine uses all the components of the plant for good. To cure dropsy and improve blood quality, it is recommended to prepare a tincture from young juniper leaves and stems.

To prepare you will need:

• crushed collection - 10 g;
• cold water - 200 ml.

Combine the two components and leave for up to 8 hours. The finished tincture is filtered and consumed before meals, 1 tbsp. l. three times a day.

Juniper and cardamom tincture

To get a product that evokes the taste of London Dry Gin, you need to tinker a little with making homemade vodka. Before starting the second distillation, juniper berries, cardamom, lemon zest, cinnamon, coriander, anise, and dandelion root are added to the alcohol. From the variety of herbs and spices, for a more natural taste of Plymouth, it is important to add toffee and cardamom. The result is a pleasant drink without any obvious juniper taste or bitterness.

Juniper vodka with horseradish

Usually the classic of the genre is vodka with pepper, but true gourmets know that with horseradish and juniper the tincture is quite piquant and worthy of attention.

To prepare you will need:

• good quality vodka - 0.5 l;
• fennel seeds - 25 g;
• juniper berries - 20 g;
• horseradish root - 20 g;
• coarse salt - 5 g;
• black, ground pepper - 1 g.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Horseradish is cleaned and crushed.
2. Combine all ingredients, add vodka, shake.
3. Place in a dark place at room temperature for 2 weeks.
4. The mixture is stirred periodically.

After 14 days, the drink is filtered and stored in a cool place under a tightly closed lid.

Juniper tincture with anise

If you add a little anise when preparing juniper tincture, the drink will be provided with the taste of spicy gin.

To prepare you will need:

• vodka, moonshine - 1 l;
• juniper fruits - 10 berries;
• anise seeds - 3 pcs.;
• cinnamon - 3 g;
• lemon zest - from 1 fruit;
• coriander - 3 g.

Preparation is not difficult: all ingredients are mixed, kept in a dark place for a week, and filtered. Consumed chilled.

Juniper berry tincture with honey

You can add a special taste and enhance the beneficial properties by preparing a tincture of juniper fruits with the addition of honey and ginger. To prepare the drink you will need:

• vodka or moonshine - 1.8 l;
• natural honey - 6 tbsp. l.;
• juniper fruits - 10 berries;
• ginger - 140 g.

Vodka is poured into a container for infusion, grated ginger and crushed juniper berries are added there. All components should be thoroughly mixed until the honey is completely dissolved. The jar is sealed hermetically and kept for 14 days without access to light. The result is a unique combination of juniper aroma and bitter-sweet taste.

Recipe for juniper vodka from dry berries

If you couldn’t get the berries of common juniper, pharmacies suggest trying the fruits of spiny juniper, but it should be noted that as a result, the drink may contain the smell of medical drugs. You can use any recipe, combine the ingredients harmoniously. It is also quite possible to combine a tablespoon of the medicinal mixture with vodka (1 liter) and leave in a dark place for 14 days.

The use of juniper tincture

It is not advisable to drink juniper infusion with vodka as an alcoholic drink, since it is a medicinal composition with a storehouse of useful inclusions.Drops of a valuable substance added to tea or milk provide a good therapeutic effect. The product is an excellent immunostimulant and improves performance. You can use a home remedy to gargle, apply rubs and compresses. A little juniper tincture added to the bath will relieve fatigue and tension.

How to drink juniper vodka

Homemade juniper vodka must be consumed correctly. It is especially good when chilled without additional additives. Connoisseurs of good alcohol claim that this is the only way to experience all the flavor notes of the drink. A couple of hours before serving, a bottle of homemade gin is placed in the refrigerator.

Pour 30-50 g into glasses and drink without prolonging the pleasure. The taste value of this alcohol lies in the effect that is felt a little later - freshness in the mouth and heat in the stomach.

An alcoholic drink made from juniper is taken before meals as an aperitif, as it stimulates the appetite.

For those who do not like strong drinks, juniper vodka is recommended to be diluted with still mineral water or cranberry juice. Lemon and grapefruit juice are also excellent as a diluent. If there is room for experimentation in life, you should know that juniper vodka goes harmoniously with soda water and white vermouth.

As a snack, juniper berry tincture is recommended not to be washed down, but to be eaten as a snack; a wide variety of dishes are suitable. It can be fruit slices or meat, fish, salads, desserts.

Terms and conditions of storage

Bottled juniper alcohol is placed in nest boxes. It is recommended to store the drink at 10-20 degrees in rooms with a relative air humidity of 85%.The maximum shelf life under optimal conditions is 12 months. The more additional ingredients and sugars, the shorter the storage time of the tincture. Experts recommend using the healing composition for 6 months.

Conclusion

Juniper vodka is a pleasant invigorating drink with a characteristic taste and aroma. It is popular and has its own history, but you can still prepare it at home and feel the delicate smell of spruce branches and a tart aftertaste. By following all stages of the technological process, craftsmen manage to obtain an elite drink for their pleasure and the surprise of their guests.

Reviews of juniper vodka

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