Enjoy summer in a glass with this strawberry gin with a hint of black pepper. Unlike sloe gin it is ready within a few days. This strawberry gin is delicious over ice, or in a cocktail. So easy to make and ideal for gifting.
Strawberry Gin
I love fresh, ripe strawberries. Surreptitiously scoffed straight off the plant at a pick-your-own; served in a bowl with cream or a drizzle of balsamic vinegar (seriously, try it if you haven’t yet); or crammed into a luscious pavlova with lashings of whipped cream. However I eat them, I always enjoy them.
And now you can drink them too: with this delicious strawberry and black pepper gin that’s a great new way to enjoy my favourite early summer fruit.
The great thing about strawberry and black pepper gin is that unlike many other flavoured gins and liqueurs, it takes only a few days to make. It’s easy to make, and by making it yourself you can tailor the sweetness to your preference; I find too many flavoured gins and liqueurs are simply too sickly sweet for me. Moderate sugar and the warmth of a hint of pepper make this drink a real zinging winner.
How do you make strawberry and black pepper gin?
First, tidy up the strawberries by pulling or cutting off the calyx. Then cut them in half, or the large ones into quarters.
Second, pour the gin into a large – 500ml – mason jar or similar. Add the sugar, and give it a good swirl to start it dissolving. Add the strawberries and peppercorns and place the jar in the fridge.
For a twist on the recipe you can leave the pepper out, or use Szechuan pepper for a tongue numbing tingle!
What gin do I use to make strawberry gin?
For all my infusions we use the supermarket’s own mid range dry London style gin. Not the cheapest which would be too harsh and not a premium which is too expensive.
Third. Leave the fruit to steep for three days. Twice a day or so, take it out and give it a gentle swirl to help the sugar dissolve. The strawberries will lose their colour and shrink.
Finally, sieve out the fruit and pepper, and decant the gin into a bottle. Keep it in the fridge.
Don’t just throw away the strawberries! They’re soaked in gin, and despite losing their colour still taste great, so use as a topping for some yogurt for a simple pudding for the adults!
How do I use strawberry and black pepper gin?
- It’s great in a summery gin and tonic with a twist. Garnish with a sprig of basil and a strawberry slice.
- Or add a splash of vermouth for a strawberry martini
- Mix strawberry gin, lime juice and club soda for a unique summer cocktail perfect for a balmy evening
- Strawberry gin, mint leaves, and still, cloudy lemonade is a delicious combination
- Add to Prosecco or Champagne for a strawberry Kir Royale
Or invent your own, and have a unique summer cocktail to treat visitors!
Black pepper and strawberry gin
Ingredients
- 200 g strawberries
- 50 g caster sugar
- 350 ml gin
- 10 black peppercorns
Instructions
- Remove the leaves from the strawberries and slice each one in half. Put them into a 500ml jar.
- Add the gin, sugar and peppercorns. Give it a good swirl to help dissolve the sugar. Place the jar in the fridge.
- Leave the jar to steep for three days. Twice a day, give the jar a swirl to help all the sugar dissolve.
- Sieve the gin to remove the strawberries and peppercorns. Decant the gin into a clean bottle.
Notes
- This recipe is 3 Weight Watchers Smart Points per portion
If you like this then why not make our rhubarb and ginger gin?
Or how about Peach Gin?
Kate
I love strawberries and black pepper together, so this gin infusion is right up my alley. Sounds delicious.
Helen
such a good flavour combination.
Annemarie
Such a unique combo! It looks so delicious and refreshing.
Helen
The flavours go so well together.
Sandi
What a fun way to make flavored gin. I love the step by step pix.
Helen
So easy to make, and so good to drink.
Linda Holland
Another wonderful looking gin drink, Helen. Perfect for the season’s strawberries when they are tasting their best.
Helen
Strawberries at this time of year are so so good.
Rebecca K
I love how easy this is to make. A perfect summer drink to have with the girls in the garden. Blissful.
Helen
Perfect for summer drinking.
Bryan B
A great idea to make your own flavoured gin. I do find shop bought versions far too sweet and rather costly at that too.
Helen
Being able to control the sweetness is always good.
Kirsty
I haven’t got in to the gin thing yet, I’m more a vodka drinker. But this does sound lovely and the colour is nice too.
Helen
The flavours in the gin do make it very palatable. Or you could try it with vodka.
Diana Black
I do enjoy a good gin cocktail, and this sounds fabulous for strawberry martini. Huge gin fan, huge strawberry fan, what more could a girl want?
Helen
They really do go so well together.
Sharon
This gin seems so good and delicious. I love the additional ideas for using the strawberries once the gin is done. Looks great!
Helen
Gin soaked strawberries cannot go to waste, far too good.
Demeter
What a great flavor combo! Such a fun drink idea, especially this time of year. :)
Helen
Perfect for a summer drink.
Catherine D
Such a fab idea for a summer drink, and so easy to make.
Helen
A perfect summer drink.
Dawn
I love how easy it is to make such a successful recipe. This totally outdoes my sister’s Skittle vodka!
Helen
I would much prefer strawberry infused to Skittles.
Tricia L
Black pepper and strawberries sound like such a good combination. I’ve tried a strawberry and chili gin, which was interesting.
Helen
Strawberry and chili sounds fierce.
Aaron
I like entertaining guests with homemade infusions, I find them more popular than cocktails.
Helen
Infusions can be lighter than some cocktails.
Jade Williamson
We went strawberry picking at the weekend, so I know where some of them are going now. This sounds utterly delicious. Can’t wait to try it.
Helen
Sounds like a great way of using some of those strawberries.
Sally - My Custard Pie
As you know I’m a gin lover and this definitely appeals. Cheaper than buying the branded flavoured gins and sounds a lot nicer. The cocktail ideas are fab.
Helen
Homemade flavoured gins are so good, and I much prefer them too.
Liam
Making your own flavoured gin is so much better than buying it ready made. We have a few mason jars on the go at the moment.
Helen
Much prefer homemade.
Pheobe T
I absolutely love summer strawberries, so much flavour. Adding that to gin sounds utterly delicious.
Helen
Summer strawberries are so good.
Gary H
I totally agree with strawberries and balsamic vinegar, it was a delight I happened upon at a little restaurant in York. Really good.
Helen
Such a good combination.
Wendy M
Not sure how you do it Helen, but you make the strange sound delicious. I wouldn’t have considered black pepper with strawberry at all, but this looks great.
Helen
They go really well together.
Heather
I’m going to need to buy more bottles or jars, I have far too many flavoured gins I want to make and running out of containers. Definitely going to make this one next.
Helen
I usually have lots, some ready to go, some in process.
julie jenkins
Wow I am NOT a gin drinker at all, but the martini with vermouth, what can I say????? The strawberry taste is amazing too, the vermouth really brings out the smoothness, that I have never had in him before. Amazing! Off to make the one with melon now.
Helen
That is an excellent idea to make a martini with it! Off to try it!
Kim
Im keen to try this for a hen party im going to in a few weeks time. How long does the Gin keep afterwards and does it need to be stored in the fridge?
Helen
It will keep a few weeks – although mine didn’t last that long. I think it is best to keep it in the fridge – as there is a lot of diluted strawberry juice in it.
Leonie Fredrick
This is so good I’ve made three batches of it already this summer. Not that I’ve drank it all myself, it’s very popular with my guests!
Rob
Gin infusions are so easy to make and so successful. A great drink for summer.