Gooseberry Gin!

Here’s a fun thing to do with gooseberries if you by chance have a ‘glut’ of red or green gooseberries…

  • 400g gooseberries
  • 150g-250g caster sugar
  • 700ml bottle gin

You will also need

  • 1l wide-mouthed, flip-top jar, sterilised
  • Wash, top & tail the gooseberries, discarding any leaves or stalks. Slice each berry in half, then put the fruit into the sterilised 1-litre jar.
  • Add the sugar – 250g for green gooseberries, 150g for sweeter, red gooseberries, then pour over the gin.
  • Seal the lid and shake until most of the sugar dissolves. Reserve the emptied gin bottle for later.
  • Keep in a cool dark place and give the jar a shake every couple of days.

The gin will be ready after 3 weeks and can be kept for up to 3 months. Remove the gooseberries after a month. (You can use the boozy gooseberries that you strain out of your infused gin in a savory quick cook compote to accompany grilled mackerel or roasted duck!)

When you do strain out the fruit, strain with muslin and place into a clean bottle to store.

Drink neat or mix with tonic or sparkling water. You can add a sprig of mint as a fresh garnish for a summery cocktail.