Give the gift of homemade booze: 23 easy recipes for DIY liqueur (2024)

FAQs

Can you gift homemade alcohol? ›

I'll make batches of the spirits and keep them in jugs until I'm ready to bottle them as gifts. If you are making the spirits and bottling before the “drink date” just make a note on your gift tag letting your recipient know when the ideal time will be to crack open that bottle! No reason not to make these this year.

In English, moonshine is also known as mountain dew, choop, hooch (abbreviation of hoochinoo, name of a specific liquor, from Tlingit), homebrew, mulekick, shine, sneaky pete, white dog, white lightning, white/corn liquor, white/corn whiskey, pass around, firewater, and bootleg.

What is the most loved alcoholic drink? While the most loved alcohol drink is beer, whiskies, vodkas, and tequila make for some of the best alcohol gifts during the holiday season.

While individuals of legal drinking age may produce wine or beer at home for personal or family use, Federal law strictly prohibits individuals from producing distilled spirits at home (see 26 United States Code (U.S.C.) 5042(a)(2) and 5053(e)).

Most homemade liqueurs start with vodka. This spirit is an ideal base for liqueurs because it's colorless and flavorless, making it the perfect blank canvas. Start by creating some of the most popular liqueur flavors, like coffee, amaretto, and Irish cream — they all rely on vodka for their kick.

The shelf life of a homemade liqueur depends on several factors. If you have decided to prepare a simple fruit liqueur, you can usually expect that it will last for several months thanks to the alcohol it contains.

You can drink amaretto straight by itself, or mix it with scotch, bourbon, rum, and other alcoholic drinks. Amaretto also mixes well with non-alcoholic drinks, like coffee, hot chocolate, and ginger beer. To drink amaretto straight, pour it over ice. Add a squeeze of lemon or lime for extra flavor.

The bittersweet almond and vanilla flavour of amaretto mixes brilliantly with dark spirits – particularly whiskey but this versatile liqueur also mixes well with a wide range of white spirits – vodka obviously but also the likes of tequila and gin, the Marsala Martini being a brilliant example.

You'll find amaretto in simple lowballs where it's paired with brandy, rum, vodka, and whiskey. It's often featured in sweet dessert and inviting cozy drinks—both warm and cold—and excellent with coffee. Amaretto is also a great mixer for fruity co*cktails alongside apple, cranberry, orange, pear, and much more.

Is it appropriate to gift alcohol? ›

Gifting alcohol to individuals who do not partake can be awkward and may even alienate them. It's crucial to have a good understanding of the recipient's preferences and any potential dietary or cultural restrictions before selecting an alcoholic gift.

Making Your Own Wine At Home

You will be allowed by the state of California to produce 100 gallons of wine per adult in your home with a maximum of 200 gallons. You can share the wine that you make with others inside your home but should in no way being selling the wine.

“Some people give more than that, and some might give a coffee shop gift card depending on their staff and their budget.” Alcohol is also a common one, but it's important to be mindful of those employees who don't drink. “A heartfelt letter to the group is so powerful too, and it means so much,” adds Mitchell.

Similar to any gift, presentation is important when it comes to gifting alcohol. A brown bag won't make the cut. Instead, buy a festive-looking packaging and throw in a fancy “To/From” gift tag or a holiday card. Pair your gift with something else.