Wow your nearest and dearest with blackberry vodka, pear liqueur, limey limoncello and spicy rum. And for those who aren’t on the hard stuff, a booze-free ginger and rosemary cordial and a blueberry and lemon thyme shrub
No one wants socks, and you’ll only get the wrong brand of gin if you go for a bottle. Instead, whether for a boozer or teetotaller, why not make something personalised, delicious and easy to create? These recipes are all good as they are, but they’re equally valuable as templates from which to experiment with other flavours. All are scalable and, in my experience, very happily received. Expect future orders. Keep all the alcoholic infusions chilled for immediate deployment, though they will last almost indefinitely out of the fridge.
Mark Diacono’s latest book, Vegetables: Easy and Inventive Vegetarian Suppers, is published by Quadrille at £27. To order a copy for £24.30, go to guardianbookshop.com
