9 Simple DIY Marinades You Won't Believe Are Made With Gin

The best way to step up your grilling game this summer is with a delicious marinade. And while you’re mastering the grill, make sure you treat yourself to a BLT — that’s a Beefeater®, lemon, and tonic. Spot-on!

1. Juniper Marinade

Juniper berries are the primary botanical in gin. And the gin dials up the combination of the peppercorns, fresh parsley and, of course, the juniper berries. All combining to give this marinade its zingy, summery taste!

Ingredients:

2 cups Beefeater® Gin

½ cup extra virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

2 cloves garlic, flattened with the side of a cleaver

3 sprigs of fresh parsley

2 tsp dried juniper berries (found at specialty stores and online)

1 tsp black peppercorns

Instructions: Combine all ingredients and whisk to blend. This marinade works great with beef and lamb.

2. Gin and (Orange!) Juice Marinade

Gin and juice never goes out of style! And this marinade will blow your usual orange chicken Chinese takeout out of the water, and give you an excuse to fire up the grill on a hot summer night.

Ingredients:

½ Beefeater® Gin

¼ cup orange juice

2 tsp orange zest

3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 Tbsp. soy sauce

3 Tbsp. sugar

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions: Combine all ingredients and whisk to blend. This is a great marinade for chicken or beef.

3. Gin-Spiked Barbecue Sauce

There’s nothing like barbecue sauce to add intense flavor to your grilling. And boozy sauces — like this one made with gin — are even better! (It’s not summer without barbecue, right?)

Ingredients:

¾ cup Beefeater® Gin

1 ½ cups ketchup

Juice from 1 orange

¾ cup cider vinegar

1 Tbsp. molasses

½ Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp chili powder

Instructions: Combine all liquid ingredients in medium saucepan and whisk to combine. Bring sauce to a simmer and add salt, pepper, and chili powder. Cook for 2 to 3 additional minutes to meld flavors. This sauce is idea for barbecue chicken and ribs.

4. BLT Marinade

A spot-on gin and tonic — or BLT! — is garnished with a wedge of lemon, not lime. This gin and lemon flavor combination, along with honey, garlic, and herbs, give this marinade a zippy summery flavor!

Ingredients:

½ cup Beefeater® Gin

½ cup lemon juice

½ olive oil (or vegetable oil)

Zest from one lemon

2 tsp honey

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 tsp dried Oregano

Thyme sprig

Salt and pepper

Instructions: Combine all ingredients and whisk to blend. This works perfectly with chicken and fish.

5. Spicy Gimlet Marinade

A classic gimlet is made with lime juice and gin … just like this marinade. And the cumin, cayenne, agave, and garlic give this a south-of-the-border twist. Take advantage of the weather and host Taco Tuesday on the patio with this marinade as the star!

Ingredients:

½ cup Beefeater® Gin

Zest and juice of 2 limes

2 Tbsp. agave

2 cloves garlic, minced

½ tsp cumin

½ tsp cayenne

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions: Combine all ingredients and whisk to blend. This is perfect for fish tacos and seafood!

6. Minty Gin Marinade

Mint, lime, and gin combine for a light and refreshing flavor perfect for grilling on the hottest of hot summer days.

Ingredients:

¼ cup Beefeater® Gin

½ cup fresh mint

2 cloves garlic

Juice of 2 limes

1 Tbsp. honey

¾ cup canola oil

Instructions: In a blender or food processor, pulse mint, garlic, lime juice, gin, and honey. Once mint and garlic are finely blended, slowly drizzle in oil with the blender running. This marinade is spot-on with lamb, chicken, or even a turkey breast.

7. Sweet, Sour, and Boozy Marinade

This Asian-inspired marinade is both sweet and savory, and the botanicals in the gin — like angelica seeds and coriander seeds — are the perfect complement to the eastern flavors. It’s great for when you’re craving stir-fry but it’s too hot to be inside over the stove.

Ingredients:

½ cup Beefeater® Gin

½ cup soy sauce

¼ cup vegetable oil

3 or 4 cloves crushed garlic

2 Tbsp. honey

½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions: Combine all ingredients and whisk to blend. Try this with beef, chicken, or shrimp.

8. Spicy Gin Marinade

Gin brings out the heat of the serrano peppers — in season for summer! — in this spicy marinade and the lemon zest is perfect since lemon peel is one of the ingredients that flavors your gin. (And serve with a BLT to cool down your mouth.)

Ingredients:

½ cup Beefeater® Gin

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

Juice and zest from one lemon

2 serrano peppers, halved (or 1 jalapeño, halved)

2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

Salt and pepper

Instructions: Combine all ingredients and whisk to blend. Try this with shrimp or even marinated veggies.

9. Gin-ger Marinade

The delicately layered botanicals of the gin combine with ginger for an incredible marinade — and a good cocktail too. This one is slightly spicy, slightly sweet, and super simple for when you just want to grill but are craving Thai takeout.

Ingredients:

½ cup Beefeater® Gin

¼ cup honey

1 Tbsp. grated ginger

2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice

⅛ tsp Sriracha

Instructions: Combine all ingredients and whisk to blend. Try this with fish, tofu, or shrimp.

Start your next grill session with a Beefeater® Gin marinade and a BLT! Spot-on!

All images Lauren Zaser / © BuzzFeed

Design by Kevin Valente

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BEEFEATER® London Dry Gin. Product of England. 100% Neutral Spirits. Distilled From Grain. 47% Alc./Vol. (94 Proof).
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