A beginner's guide to making pink gin at home

If you're a fan of pink gin and want to try making your own at home, it's not as hard as you might think.

Published 28th Jun 2019
Updated 21 st Sep 2023

With the current gin boom not stopping anytime soon, former 'mother's ruin' is as popular as ever, with pink gin seeing a rise in popularity off the back of this trend.

With around 70 gin distilleries in Scotland, we are producing the nations favourite spirit, and many brands have branched out into pink, fruit and liqueur ranges.

But if you want to try your hand at creating some pink gin at home, it's not as complicated as you might think.

What is pink gin?

make pink gin at home

Picture: Shutterstock

Original a cocktail of Plymouth Gin with a dash of Angostura bitters and lemon twist, these days pink gin is blush hued drink, which gets its colour from a range of summer fruits such as raspberries, strawberries or cherries.

The team at Sipsmith say: "2018 was the year of pink gin, and this burgeoning trend shows no sign of diminishing anytime soon."

One of the latest pink gin launches is from Edinburgh Gin who, earlier this year, brought out a full strength version of their ever popular rhubarb and ginger combo.

Pink gins are also available in handy cans and from many big names such as Gordon's and Eden Mill.

How can it be made a home?

If you don't have time to make your own gin (which can be done surprisingly easily at home), the easiest way to make pink gin is to simply steep your choice of pink fruit along with some sugar and your favourite gin.

Pink gin recipes

Here are some summery pink gin recipes to try at home.

Raspberry gin from The Craft Gin Club

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Ingredients:
200g Fresh Raspberries

100g sugar

70cl gin of your choice

Method:

Pour 200g of raspberry, 100g suger and 70cl of gin into an airtight jar, close and shake well.

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Store in a cool, dark place for two week. Strain using a sieve or muslin cloth.

Sipsmith rhubarb gin

make pink gin at home

Picture: Sipsmith

Master distiller at Sipsmith, Jared Brown, has created this tart pink gin recipe, made from spring rhubarb and strawberries.

Ingredients:

500g rhubarb

500ml water

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200g sugar

5-6 strawberries

Sipsmith London Dry Gin

Method:

Combine first four ingredients in a pot.

Simmer, covered, on low heat for 30 minutes, or until the rhubarb is soft.

Set the pot aside and let it cool. Strain through a cheese cloth.

Measure the resulting liquid.

Add an equal measure of Sipsmith London Dry Gin - this should make around two litres. Enjoy!

Pink gin cocktail recipes

If you'd rather not wait for your pink gin, then why not try one of these cocktails, all made using delicious blush gins from Scotland.

Eden Mill Love Club cocktail

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Ingredients

25ml Love Gin

25ml Love Gin Liqueur

20ml lemon juice

15ml sugar syrup

5 fresh raspberries

1 egg white

Method

Muddle the raspberries, add the other ingredients.

Dry shake, then shake with ice.

Strain into your favourite cocktail glass.

Gordon's Pink Spritz cocktail

make pink gin at home

Picture: Gordon's Gin

 

Ingredients

Two parts Gordon's pink gin

Two parts lemonade

One part Prosecco

Mix two parts Gordon’s pink gin with two parts lemonade and one part prosecco.

Serve in a large wine glass filled with ice, garnish with fresh strawberries and raspberries.

Hendrick's Midsummer Solstice bramble spritz

make pink gin at home

Picture: Hendrick's

Ingredients

35ml Hendrick’s Midsummer Solstice

15ml crème de cassis

10ml fresh lemon juice

60ml soda water

Dash of sparkling wine

Method

Into a large wine glass filled with ice cubes add all the ingredients and stir gently to mix.

Garnish with a blackberry and a cucumber ribbon.

 

 

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Known for cake making, experimental jam recipes, Champagne, whisky and gin drinking (and the inability to cook Gnocchi), Rosalind is the Food and Drink Editor and whisky writer for The Scotsman, as well as hosting Scran, The Scotsman's food and drink podcast.
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