Rancho Blasto

Rancho Blasto Gin

My son-in-law, Josh, was visiting the ranch when the junipers were full of berries.  He remarked that he could use them to make Gin.  Now I don’t know about you, but I always thought Gin was pretty nasty.  I prefer my Martinis made with Vodka.   Well to make a long story shorter, Josh took a big bag of berries home with him and promised to make a bottle.  A few weeks passed and I had forgot all about it, when he shows up for Sunday dinner with a bottle of his home made Gin.

It was brown like good bourbon, and in a bottle with the label I have posted here.  It sure looked good but how did it taste?  We poured a couple short glasses and gave it a try.  I thought it was awfull.   As I mentioned, I am not a Gin man.  Josh loved it and quickly finished his.  I thought it needed something, so I poured some ginger ale over it, and tried again.  Wow!  It was pretty good!

The ginger ale added a touch of sweetness and when poured in, changed the color like water does to Absynth.  It is now a favorite of mine, and one best enjoyed with a fine cigar.  So try it out if you get the chance.  You sure won’t go blind.

Ingredients

One 750 mL bottles of 100 proof vodka

One 750 mL Bottle of 80 Proof Vodka

About ¼ cup of Rancho Blasto Juniper Berries – Fresh off the Tree

About 2 TBSP of Whole Coriander Seeds -Crushed

About 2 TBSP of Dried Orange Peel

About 2 TBSP of Fresh or Dried lemon Peel

About 2 TBSP of Fresh or Dried Lime Peel

Four to Five Lime Leaves

1 Cinnamon Stick

1 to 2 Cardamom Pod – Crushed

Edible Dried Flowers such Hibiscus or Lavender

Tools

A Gallon Jar with Twist Top Lid

Cheese Cloth

Strainer

Brita Pitcher with New Filter

2 750 mL Bottles – Original Vodka Bottles will work

Directions

Use a mortar and pestle, coffee grinder, for processor or the back of Chef’s Knife to break up the coriander seeds and cardamom.  Place the crushed Coriander Seeds and Cardamom along with all the Herbs and Spices in the Gallon Jar and add the whole bottle of 100 Proof Vodka.  Place the Jar in a dark, room-temperature spot for about a week and give a shake at least once a day.  After a week, the mixture will look brown and the color of whisky.  Now add the other bottle of 80 proof bottle of Vodka to the jar.

Next, take cheesecloth or a coffee filter and put in a strainer in a bowl which will fill the liquid mixture.  Pour the mixture through the Strainer.  Wrest all the liquid you can from the wet ingredients.  When the most of the mixture is free from solids, pour the mixture through the Brita Filter.  Be sure to follow the directions to activate new Brita filter.  There will be a lot of sediment in the filter bowl which is a good thing, this stuff is nasty.  Keep running the gin through the filter at least five more times.  Once the mixture starts clearing up, taste and place in glass bottles.

Thanks Josh!

Juniper trees at Rancho Blasto