Homemade Ginger Liqueur
Photo: Stuart Mullenberg
Spice up your sipping agenda with this simple recipe for homemade ginger liqueur. Infused with loads of fresh ginger, orange zest and vanilla, and sweetened with a delicate ginger-chamomile honey syrup, this formula is one of our favorite DIY recipes. Its golden color and rich flavor brighten a hot toddy, add warmth to a glass of Champagne and lend a gingery kick to cocktails.
Ingredients
- 750 ml. unaged brandy
- 6 oz. fresh ginger, divided
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 Tbsp. loose-leaf chamomile tea
- 1 whole vanilla pod
- 1 orange
- Tools:vegetable peeler, 1-liter glass jar, small saucepan, paring knife, cheesecloth, funnel
Preparation
Peel and finely dice 4 oz. of fresh ginger. Combine the peeled, chopped ginger and brandy in a 1-liter glass jar. Cover, shake and store in a cool, dark place for 1 week, shaking daily.
After 1 week, peel and finely dice the remaining ginger. In a small saucepan, combine this ginger with water, honey and chamomile tea. Bring just to a simmer, stir until the honey dissolves, remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature.
With a vegetable peeler, remove the outer peel (or zest) of the orange, taking care to avoid the white pith. Use a paring knife to split the vanilla pod lengthwise. Add the orange peel and vanilla pod to the ginger-brandy mixture. Without straining, pour the ginger-chamomile honey syrup into the ginger-brandy mixture. Cover, shake and store in a cool, dark place for 1 week, shaking every few days.
Fine-strain the liquid through multiple layers of cheesecloth (or use a nut-milk bag or coffee filter) while funneling into a clean glass bottle. Cap (or cork) and store at room temperature for up to 6 months.
Tip: For the best results, use an unaged grape brandy like a blanche Armagnac or a higher-proof quality grape spirit, or in a pinch, use a high-proof quality vodka.