Gin may not offer as neutral of a palette as vodka, but its juniper pine notes create the perfect jumping-off point for a complex and delightful citrus infused gin. With a spectrum of flavors from sour lemon to soft clementine, you can easily infuse gin to live your citrus dreams.
Clementine-Infused Gin
Clementine offers the right amount of sweet fruit flavor and acidic citrus to create a well-balanced flavor with the gin.
Ingredients
- 3 to 5 whole clementines, unpeeled quartered
- 750mL gin
- Two large clean bottles or jars
- Cheesecloth or other fine strainer
- Funnel
Instructions
- Cut the clementines into quarters, keeping the peel on.
- In a large clean bottle or jar, add the quartered clementines and gin.
- Secure the cap tightly, then firmly swirl to mix the infusion.
- Store in a cool, dark place for approximately 3 to 4 days, giving the infusion a firm swirl each day.
- After the third or fourth day, sample the flavors by pouring the infusion into a glass. Allow the clementine and gin to steep together longer if you want more flavor.
- If it meets your expectations, carefully remove clementines and discard them.
- Funnel the infused gin into the second clean bottle, filtering with the cheesecloth.
- Carefully seal and store in a cool, dry place.
You can use the infused gin right away. You can store any unused gin in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark place for approximately one to two years before the flavor begins to soften. Discard when the flavor starts to fade or tastes "off."
Blood Orange-Infused Gin
Blood orange has not only a distinct color but a distinct flavor that resembles grapefruit, raspberry, and lemon, which makes it a dream with gin.
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 whole blood oranges, sliced
- 750mL gin
- Two large clean bottles or jars
- Cheesecloth or other fine strainer
- Funnel
Instructions
- In a large, clean jar or bottle, add sliced blood oranges and gin and tightly seal.
- Give the mix a gentle shake.
- Store in a cool, dry place for approximately 3 to 4 days, gently shaking the container each day.
- After the infusion has steeped, pour a small amount into a glass to sample. If it meets your expectations, funnel and strain ingredients into a second clean jar or bottle. Otherwise, allow the ingredients to steep further.
Grapefruit-Infused Gin
Amp up your favorite gin with sweet yet sour notes of grapefruit.
Ingredients
- 2 whole sliced grapefruits
- 750mL gin
- Two large clean bottles or jars
- Cheesecloth or other fine strainer
- Funnel
Instructions
- In a large, clean jar or bottle, add sliced grapefruits and gin and tightly seal.
- Give the mix a gentle shake.
- Store in a cool, dry place for approximately 3 to 4 days, gently shaking the container each day.
- After the infusion has steeped, pour a small amount into a glass to sample. If it meets your expectations, funnel and strain ingredients into a second clean jar or bottle. Otherwise, allow the ingredients to steep further.
Mandarin-Infused Gin
Sometimes you want a soft citrus flavor for your infusion, and a mandarin gets the job done with the perfect amount of sweetness.
Ingredients
- 3 to 5 whole sliced mandarins
- 750mL gin
- Two large clean bottles or jars
- Cheesecloth or other fine strainer
- Funnel
Instructions
- In a large, clean jar or bottle, add sliced mandarins and gin and tightly seal.
- Give the mix a gentle shake.
- Store in a cool, dry place for approximately 3 to 4 days, gently shaking the container each day.
- After the infusion has steeped, pour a small amount into a glass to sample. If it meets your expectations, funnel and strain ingredients into a second clean jar or bottle. Otherwise, allow the ingredients to steep further.
Lemon-Infused Gin
Many classic gin cocktails start with lemon and gin, skip a step and keep a bottle of ready-made flavors on hand.
Ingredients
- 2 to 4 whole sliced lemons
- 750mL gin
- Two large clean bottles or jars
- Cheesecloth or other fine strainer
- Funnel
Instructions
- In a large, clean jar or bottle, add sliced lemons and gin and tightly seal.
- Give the mix a gentle shake.
- Store in a cool, dry place for approximately 3 to 4 days, gently shaking the container each day.
- After the infusion has steeped, pour a small amount into a glass to sample. If it meets your expectations, funnel and strain ingredients into a second clean jar or bottle. Otherwise, allow the ingredients to steep further.
Lime-Infused Gin
With lime gin on hand, all you need is a little tonic water, and you have an instant cocktail. Or enjoy it on its own.
Ingredients
- 2 to 4 whole sliced limes
- 750mL gin
- Two large clean bottles or jars
- Cheesecloth or other fine strainer
- Funnel
Instructions
- In a large, clean jar or bottle, add sliced limes and gin and tightly seal.
- Give the mix a gentle shake.
- Store in a cool, dry place for approximately 3 to 4 days, gently shaking the container each day.
- After the infusion has steeped, pour a small amount into a glass to sample. If it meets your expectations, funnel and strain ingredients into a second clean jar or bottle. Otherwise, allow the ingredients to steep further.
Orange-Infused Gin
Oranges have a rich, citrus flavor that'll set your gin apart, and don't forget that dose of Vitamin C this bottle will pack.
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 whole sliced oranges
- 750mL gin
- Two large clean bottles or jars
- Cheesecloth or other fine strainer
- Funnel
Instructions
- In a large, clean jar or bottle, add sliced oranges and gin and tightly seal.
- Give the mix a gentle shake.
- Store in a cool, dry place for approximately 3 to 4 days, gently shaking the container each day.
- After the infusion has steeped, pour a small amount into a glass to sample. If it meets your expectations, funnel and strain ingredients into a second clean jar or bottle. Otherwise, allow the ingredients to steep further.
Key Lime-Infused Gin
Go sweet, go soft, go dessert notes with a key lime gin that'll transform any traditional gin cocktail.
Ingredients
- 4 to 6 whole sliced key limes
- 750mL gin
- Two large clean bottles or jars
- Cheesecloth or other fine strainer
- Funnel
Instructions
- In a large, clean jar or bottle, add sliced key limes and gin and tightly seal.
- Give the mix a gentle shake.
- Store in a cool, dry place for approximately 3 to 4 days, gently shaking the container each day.
- After the infusion has steeped, pour a small amount into a glass to sample. If it meets your expectations, funnel and strain ingredients into a second clean jar or bottle. Otherwise, allow the ingredients to steep further.
Variations of Citrus-Infused Gin
While you're marveling over your single flavor infusion, consider adding a second flavor to your gin.
- Layer citrus flavors together, adding orange to lemon, lemon to lime, or blood orange to lemon.
- Many berries pair well with citrus flavors. Consider adding a cup of sliced cranberries, blueberries, blackberries, cherries, raspberries, or hulled and sliced strawberries.
- To sweeten your citrus gin, include a half cup of honey, agave, or maple syrup, or start with a quarter cup for a more subtle flavor.
- Herbs add a savory spin to the citrus notes. Add two to three sprigs of rosemary, thyme, lemongrass, mint, or basil.
- Go for a fruity citrus flavor with a cup of sliced apples, pears, watermelon, pomegranate seeds, or pitted and sliced peaches, mangoes, or papayas.
- Create a subtly spiced citrus gin with three cardamom pods, a quarter cup of peeled and sliced ginger, a tablespoon of cloves, or two to three cinnamon sticks.
Citrus-Infused Gin Flavor Pairings
There are plenty of citrus gin flavor combinations to use as a springboard as you explore your options.
- Clementine + rosemary
- Blood orange + lemon
- Clementine + cranberry
- Key Lime + vanilla
- Blood orange + vanilla
- Lime + coconut
- Blood orange + pomegranate
- Mandarin + lemon
- Key Lime + raspberries
- Orange + almonds
- Grapefruit + rosemary
- Lemon + mango
- Clementine + raspberries
- Lemon + pear
- Lime + jicama
- Orange + honey
- Lime + raspberries
- Key Lime + coconut
- Mandarin + rosemary
- Orange + peach
- Grapefruit + honey
- Lemon + apple
Citrus-Infused Gin Cocktails
Put your homemade citrus gin creation to good use in a classic gin cocktail riff or in a modern drink.
Blood Orange Martini
With notes of raspberry and lemon already built-in, this fruit martini is over halfway there before you even add the other ingredients.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces blood-orange infused gin
- ½ ounce raspberry liqueur
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1-2 dashes orange bitters
- Ice
- Lemon peel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, blood orange gin, raspberry liqueur, lemon juice, and orange bitters.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with lemon peel.
Key Lime Tonic
Nothing is more simple or elegant yet soothing to the soul than a classic gin and tonic. But make sure to use a citrus tonic to make yours the belle of the ball.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces key lime-infused gin
- ¼ ounce elderflower liqueur
- Ice
- Tonic water to top off
- Lemon wheel, lime wheel, and rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail glass, add ice, key lime gin, and elderflower liqueur.
- Top off with tonic water.
- Garnish with lemon wheel, lime wheel, and rosemary sprig.
Easy Gin Gimlet
If you don't have freshly squeezed lime juice or any lime juice on hand, you can still shake up a gimlet with just two ingredients. This is great for those who want a little less pucker, too.
Ingredients
- 2½ ounces lime-infused gin
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add lime gin and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with lime wheel.
Clementine Gin Flip
Put your sweet and subtle clementine gin to work in this savory riff on a classic flip cocktail.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces clementine-infused gin
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed clementine juice
- 1 egg white
- Ice
- Orange bitters for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add clementine gin, simple syrup, clementine juice, and egg white.
- Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
- Add ice to shaker.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with 3-4 drops of orange bitters, dragging a cocktail pick through the droplets to make a design.
Mixers for Citrus Gin Drinks
Skip the complicated martinis and other long lists of instructions in favor of combining your citrus gin with a mixer or two to get the job done.
- Lime juice
- Lemon juice
- Tonic water
- Plain club soda
- Flavored club soda, such as lemon, lime, coconut, berry, or orange
- Lemon-lime soda
- Cranberry juice
- Pineapple juice
- Vermouth
- Orange liqueur
- Almond liqueur
- Bitters
- Honey
- Simple syrup
- Maple syrup
- Apple cider
- Blood orange juice
- Limeade
- Lemonade
- Cherry juice
- Champagne or prosecco
A Citrus-Infused Gin for All
Together, the juniper gin notes and fresh citrus fruit create a tasty blend that'll sweep you off of your feet. So go ahead and grab a few extra oranges, limes, or clementines and create a one-of-a-kind citrus-infused gin. Just think of the 'gram-worthy pictures that'll await you during the infusion and your first citrus gin cocktail tasting.
