Legal reasons: A few states do not allow the shipment of alcohol, so by not including alcohol they can ship subscriptions to any state.

Most people use the same vodka bottle if the kit doesn’t include one, though some kits also provide attractive bottles for you to present your gin creation in. You don’t have to use vodka – but it’s a good neutral spirit to start with. Other people might get creative and use schnapps or other similar spirits. The other was the “Light & Breezy,” a lighter twist on the Dark & Stormy with rum, ginger-lime syrup, lime, seltzer and candied ginger. Quality of infused gin: The most important thing. We marked the gin on its taste, flavour, and colour (both on its own and in combination with tonic) to determine which kits made it into our best list.

The Verdict: Cocktail making kits

Instruction manual: Part of the fun of gin-making is the process, so instructions that are clear and easy to follow are key. Many of the kits will produce results after 24 hours upwards. This is great if you only have a days’ notice for a party or get together and want to serve your own homemade gin to your guests. Since you’re doing this at home, you don’t need to abide by such stringent definitions so you can include whatever you like! Many of the kits have a great selection of botanicals to try, but you can also buy them separately and go wild with different combinations. How long does it take to make gin at home? Many gin making kits specify that you’ll need “good” vodka but don’t go into specifics. So which vodka is best for making gin with a kit? If you’re just experimenting and would like something cheap and cheerful to start out with, most of the usual brands will do – you don’t need anything special. It was only a matter of time before tonic kits were created to sit alongside all the artisan gin making kits, but this one’s a little bit more involved, giving you more than just a ‘make your own tonic kit’.

Looking for something extra special? You'll also find a selection of premium offerings containing full-size bottles of gin. How we test gin gift setsDisclosure: I received free products in exchange for my honest opinions. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Feast + West. Selection of botanicals: A variety of appealing botanicals make for an exciting gin-making experience. This kit is ideal for a date night or a girls’ night in, which is when I tested it (at a hen party). If you wanted a pink gin making kit, this one’s worth considering since it starts off blue and/or purple, and then adding tonic makes the gin turn pink. Infuse the gin one afternoon and you can be sipping it the next evening. It’s just enough time to consider which tonic will go best with it! Other, more complex kits can take about a week. Which Vodka is best for making gin? As a rule of thumb, if a drink consists solely of spirits, liqueurs and fortified wines, give it a stir rather than a shake. Why do you need to use a jigger?