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

FAQs

Can you gift homemade alcohol? ›

Once you make a big batch of infused alcohol, it's time to bottle it for gifts. One way to get bottles is to save any bottles you use throughout the year and re-use them for gifts. Just be sure to clean them well, even boil them to be sure you get any reside out.

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.

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.

Tape the edge of the wrapping paper to the bottle and carefully roll the bottle until it's fully covered. Secure the other end with a piece of tape (for a clean finish, pleat the end and use double-sided tape). Fold the paper at the bottom towards the center of the bottle and secure with tape.

Hard Apple Cider is definitely the easiest way to go. There is a recipe on HomeBrewTalk that is very popular as it's extremely easy to make. Essentially you get red wine yeast and mix it with 5 Gallons of store bought apple juice and 2 pounds of dextrose. You need a carboy and an airlock, but that's it.

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.

Bottle your liqueurs in clean, decorative bottles and label with a date. The liqueurs will have the best flavor after a few months of sitting on the shelf (aging). They will begin to lose their bright color and some flavor after one year but they will not “go bad” because the alcohol is the preservative.

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.

Wine, spirits and even home bar accessories and glassware can be a great way to bring the fun to any gifting situation. And if you're heading to a party, dinner or gathering, it's also a perfect hostess gift.

Dinner or Housewarming Party

Wine and beer are usually perfect for these scenarios, and you can almost always be budget-minded here when it comes to price. Nonvintage sparkling wines like cava and prosecco, sweeter wines like moscato, as well as mid-range beers, are all great choices.