First, I hope you have been practicing on scrap or backs of drawers or something that won't be seen, until you find the technique that works.
I would use a seal coat of dewaxed clear shellac, in a 1lb cut. Allow that to dry, buff with synthetic steel wool (a gray 3M scrubby-like pad) then use your gel stain. See how well that goes in solving the blotchiness problem. If that does not give you enough color after two coats, then scrap the gel stain and try wood dye in the same color, mixed in Solar Lux Reducer so you have control over the darkness of the dye and its application. The key there is getting both the correct dilution and the proper timing for wiping any excess dye off.
http://www.woodfinishsupply.com/SolarLux.html
http://homesteadfinishingproducts.com/transtint-liquid-dyes/
http://www.rockler.com/zinsser-bullseye-sealcoat
You can mix Transtint dyes into Solar Lux Reducer and apply that over sealcoat shellac, even though it is a mashup of 3 different manufacturer's products.
Casey
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