The 'Make Your Own Christmas Booze' thread

MSE_Laura_F

Here's a brand new thread for sharing DIY alcohol tips ahead of Christmas, a resurrection of this 2004-2011 thread.

I hope this one inspires you, though please do always be Drinkaware.

The other day, MSE Duane brought in his homemade version of Baileys Irish Cream liqueur for a taste test. He brought one bottle of original and one of salted caramel, along with a bottle of the branded stuff for comparison. He used Lidl's own brand whiskey, explaining that the other flavours so overwhelm it that there's no need to buy premium whiskey.

Tasters were unanimous that the homemade versions were delicious and luxurious. They tasted very similar (though not the same) as the official Baileys, and many people said they tasted better. The great thing about making your own, Duane said, is that you can tweak the ingredients to suit your own preferences.

Wraithlady

I have just decanted the cherry vodka which has been sitting on my windowsill since July - still working my way through the raspberry vodka from last year.

Kittywinkles

Last year I made cherry brandy and pear brandy. This year I've made apple and cinnamon whisky and bramble brandy. I would love to try a dairy free baileys but havent found a recipe I like the look of yet so need to research a bit more and make my own.

MSE_Laura_F

MSE Carol's sister makes her own limoncello and various flavoured spirits, and keeps them in recycled bottles. Sometimes MSE Carol gets one as a present (if she's been good). 

tboo

I'm going to make this for Christmas Day.

White Chocolate Liquer.

✺ 250ml double cream
✺ 150ml condensed milk
✺ 200g white chocolate, finely chopped
✺ 200ml white rum
1 Bring the cream and condensed milk to a boil in a large pan. Add the chocolate and stir to melt.
2 Remove pan from heat, leave to cool for 5min, then stir in the rum.
3 Pour into sterilised bottles. Place the tops on the bottles but only screw closed slightly. Once completely cool, tighten tops. Chill before serving.

Serve in small glasses.

Store in the fridge and use within 1 month.

.

Can be given out as gifts

From Good Housekeeping.

MSE_Laura_F

Goodness me @tboo, that sounds obscenely good.

Every year I go to my nearest Aldi to look for the white chocolate liqueur they stock and it is never there. I will be trying the homemade method instead this year. Thank you.

Wraithlady

Kittywinkles said:

I would love to try a dairy free baileys but havent found a recipe I like the look of yet so need to research a bit more and make my own.

Most seem to have coconut milk in them - is this the problem? I know some people can't stand the taste

MSE_Laura_F

🍷 🍸 🥛

It's my yearly call for homemade Christmas booze recipes/ideas.

Anyone do a particularly good mulled wine or cider? Or make their own version of Baileys or gin?

And are there any vegans out there who know a decent vegan eggnog recipe? 

Thanks all!

🍷 🍸 🥛

-taff

I don't know about a good mulled cider but this years is going to ne a mash up of recipes, so apple juice, cider, dry, a bottle of cheap brandy, thinly sliced apples, cinnamon, star anise, sugar, but not too much of that, cloves, vanilla pod, nutmeg, cardamon and ginger. I will probably fall over after I've tasted it for readiness a few times...

Wraithlady

WE have some crabapple vodka on the go - cheap bottle of vodka, tablespoon of sugar and a load of homegrown crabapples.

Really need to strain the jar - it's been 3 months. TBH, we still have loads from previous years, so I can see a lot of damson gin going as Xmas presents this year.

MSE_Laura_F

I'm a bit late with this but did want to share my vegan eggnog success.

It can be a bit of a 'Marmite' drink but I love it, and this year most people I made it for told me they preferred it to my non-vegan version. I tried it both hot and cold - great either way.

This is the recipe I used:
https://lovingitvegan.com/vegan-eggnog/#recipe

One additional thing I did was to obliterate the cashews in an electric coffee grinder before adding to the blender so there aren't any lumps. Otherwise, you can sieve out the lumps after heating.

Then I served it either with rum, with bourbon or without any alcohol according to preference.