At CarnivoreWeb.com, we independently review products and outfitters. However, we may earn a commission when you purchase products through links on our site. Read our affiliate policy. Read about how we test products.
Hunting and Foraging Go Hand in Hand, so Fill Your Pockets Next Time You’re in the Woods and Create Your Own Version of This Liquor Cabinet Staple
Distilling alcohol is illegal in most states, although taking a bottle of vodka or Everclear and making an infused compound is a fun way to create a signature drink that you’ll always enjoy. Mainly because it’s a flavor that you created out of the botanicals and spices that you like.
In the spring, the evergreen trees spurt their new growth by creating sweet and tender new tips. Spruce tips are particularly flavorful. So when you see them, don’t pass them by. The best part about collecting spruce tips is that there are generally juniper bushes close-by also. Grab a few handfuls of juniper berries and, with the addition of a few more ingredients, you can make a delicious gin.
Another fun addition to your compound gin cocktail could be a nice rhubarb simple syrup, and as luck would have it, rhubarb, juniper berries, and spruce tips are all popping at the same time during our spring season. So gather large quantities of all that you have foraged for, and vacuum seal and freeze. Then, you can replenish your liquor cabinet throughout the year.
Ingredients
- 750ml good quality vodka
- 2 tbsp. juniper berries (more if you like a strong juniper gin)
- 1 tsp. peppercorns
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Zest of 1 lime
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1 cup fresh spruce tips, lightly crushed
Directions
Use a clean mason jar or glass bottle. Add your botanicals to the jar. Top with vodka. Leave to infuse in a cool dark place for at least 24 hours. A closet works well for this. Taste the infusion — it should’ve taken on some lovely juniper and spruce tip flavor already. Add any extra botanicals whose flavor you want to boost. Leave for up to another 24 hours, giving the bottle a good shake at least once. Be careful not to leave it too long and over-infuse the mixture. Follow your taste buds. Filter out the botanicals using a sieve. If there’s some sediment left, use some muslin or a coffee filter to strain again. Let the compound sit for a couple of days and then filter out any remaining sediment, or put it through a water jug filter system if you want to make it even more clear. Bottle your gin, create your own label, and try your creation out on your friends and family.
Rhubarb Simple Syrup
Ingredients
- 2 cups chopped rhubarb
- Enough water to cover
- 1 cup water
Directions
Bring to a boil over hot heat and continue to simmer until thickened and pink. Strain out the large pieces and preserve the simple syrup.
Spruce Tip Gin and Rhubarb Cocktail
Directions
Fill a glass full of ice. Add enough gin to the glass to fill halfway up in the ice. Add 1 tablespoon of rhubarb simple syrup and top off with club soda. Garnish with a lemon and spruce tip. Enjoy!
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in Carnivore Magazine Issue 6.
More Spirits & Smokes
- Alternative Spirits To Pair With Your Game
- Jameson Cold brew Dalgona Recipe
- Field Stogies: Keeping Cigars Safe On The Hunt
Why You Can Trust CARNIVORE
Since its launch, CarnivoreWeb.com has been a trusted authority on hunting, fishing and wild food, delivering expert insight for outdoorsmen who live the field-to-table lifestyle. More than a hunting and fishing site, CarnivoreWeb.com covers the full spectrum of the modern outdoors—from rifles, bows, and fishing gear to cooking, conservation and adventure.
Our contributors are drawn from across the hunting and angling world, including seasoned guides, lifelong hunters, competitive shooters and outdoor writers with decades of field experience. Every review, article and feature is built on firsthand testing, deep research, and an unwavering commitment to accuracy.
Commitment to Journalistic Principles
At CarnivoreWeb.com, upholding journalistic integrity is our top priority. We follow strict editorial standards to ensure all content is accurate, transparent, and unbiased. Our editors and writers operate independently, free from outside influence, advertisers or stakeholders. We adhere to established journalistic codes of ethics, holding ourselves accountable for the information we publish, correcting errors when they occur and disclosing any potential conflicts of interest.
This commitment ensures that our readers can trust CarnivoreWeb.com to provide reliable, honest coverage that helps them make informed decisions—whether selecting gear, honing outdoor skills or preparing wild game.
Find out more about our Editorial Standards and Evaluation Process
