How to make your own Trevethan Gin filled Christmas Crackers
Christmas is a time for giving, kindness and not to mention beautifully wrapped gifts. So why not have beautiful crackers with beautiful gifts in too? Whether you pop them on your tree, place upon the table for Christmas lunch or give as gifts for friends, family or work colleagues. A handmade gift always has that something extra special about it – the lucky recipient knows you have gone the extra mile not to mention being more eco friendly.
Here at Trevethan Distillery it’s become a tradition amongst the team during December, to craft our own crackers, after all craft is what we do best, craft distillery, craft gin, craft rum, you can see, we’re really rather good at it! Which is why we love our miniature bottles of Cornish Gin so much, they are the perfect size to pop inside crackers? Each pack comes with 3 different flavour miniatures, so not everyone will have the same, which just adds to the excitement. It’s also the perfect excuse to kick start some post lunch gin tasting to get the conversation flowing again after everyone starts fading with their full tummies!
The question is, how do you make Trevethan Gin Christmas Crackers?
First things first, you must decide how much time you have. There is the ‘from scratch’ version or the ‘cheat’ version! From scratch literally means what it says and the cheat way is to buy pre cut crackers that come flat packed. We are all running at different timescales by the time the festive season hits, but either way you will still get the same great prize... a miniature bottle of delicious Trevethan Cornish Gin!
Which ever crackers you go for you must remember this – make sure your crackers are big enough to fit the Trevethan Miniatures in! If you are buying ready cut, go for large or jumbo as a standard cracker might be a tight fit.
So what do you need?
Cracker snap - Every cracker needs a ‘Snap’ – these are easily available on Amazon
Joke - And every cracker also needs a ‘Joke’ – Half the fun has to be researching funny jokes and making your own! Type them up and print them out or beautifully hand write them for a more personal touch.
Party Hat – come on its tradition isn’t it?! Again these can be easily purchased online – or as you are creating premium crackers you could use something a little different or make your own?
Trevethan Premium Cornish Gin miniatures (1 per cracker)
Ribbon
Sellotape or paper tape
‘From scratch’ crackers will also need:
Toilet roll tubes (cut lengthways to fit your gin bottle in)
A4 paper of your choice (you can use wrapping paper, crepe paper, comics, prints)
Scissors
Thin card and at least 20cm long
Method
Put the toilet-roll tube on the long edge of the paper in the centre, and hold it in place with some tape. Make sure the gin miniature fits inside, if not cut the long edge on the tube, it will still keep its shape.
Thread a cracker snap through the toilet roll tube and tape it down to one side of the paper.
Now roll the tube across the paper and secure it with tape along the seam, in the centre and ends.
Cut two 20x5cm strips from the thin card. Curl each one into a circle and place one inside each end of the cracker, leaving roughly 2cm sticking out of the end. Hold the card in place with a little tape.
At one end of the cracker, form the hand signal for “OK” around the gap between the toilet roll and the card. Gently squeeze and twist a little with your thumb and forefinger, while using your other hand to hold the card in shape. Keep squeezing until the cracker has a nicely defined neck to it. Tie a piece of ribbon around the neck of the cracker and make a bow.
Now it’s time to put in a Christmas hat, a joke and a miniature bottle of Trevethan Gin.
Seal the open end as before and voila! You have just made your own homemade Trevethan Gin Christmas crackers.
If you purchased pre cut crackers - it will be pretty obvious how they fasten together and you will also have instructions in the pack. But again, don’t forget to tape the snap down and to fasten each end of the crackers with ribbon or similar!
To purchase your Trevethan Premium Cornish Gin Mini GIft Set, head to our online store. Priced at £22.50 - Each pack includes 4x5cl miniature bottles of Trevethan Cornish Gin. Featuring a bottle of Trevethan Original, Trevethan Grapefruit and Lychee, Trevethan Honey Oak and Trevethan Chauffeurs Reserve.
Add some ribbon, and turn your miniatures into baubles or place holders!
Don’t forget to share the images of your finished crafts on our social pages tagging @trevethangin.