How to Infuse Vodka, Bourbon, Brandy and Gin

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three jars filled with vodka infused with berries Created by Tafari K. Stevenson-Howard/Getty Images

It's surprisingly easy to make infused vodka and other liquors at home.

Walk through any grocery store liquor department and you'll observe all sorts of flavored vodkas, whiskeys, brandies and more set for all sorts of over-the-height cocktails. While it's tempting to stock upwards on some of these intriguing flavors, your bar cart can't concord them all! To get these great flavors without stuffing your liquor cabinet total, how to infuse vodka and other liquors yourself.

The Nuts of Infusing Spirits

The process for how to infuse vodka (or any other spirit) couldn't be easier. It merely takes a scrap of planning to infuse spirits with all kinds of ingredients:

Sliced fruit and vegetables similar oranges, strawberries and cucumbers
Whole spices like peppercorns, cinnamon sticks or cloves
Fresh herbs like rosemary, lavender and thyme
Extracts, flavorings or syrups, like real vanilla extract or loose-leaf tea

And then, utilise this fun DIY project equally a thoughtful gift for family and friends—or stock your home bar!

How to Infuse Vodka and Other Spirits

Ingredients

Your chosen herbs, spices, vegetables or fruits
750mL vodka or another spirit
1-2 tablespoons superfine sugar, optional

Editor's Tip: If you're nervous, commencement with vodka. It's a nearly tasteless base to play with.

Tools Y'all'll Demand

Directions

Stride i: Grab a container

To start, grab a Mason jar, the liquor of your choosing and all the accompanying flavor enhancers. (Unsure of what flavors to use? Keep reading for some great combinations below.)

Pace 2: Combine your ingredients

Place all of the flavor-enhancing ingredients in the jar. So, cover ingredients completely with your liquor. Once submerged, seal the jar tightly and store it in a absurd, dry place.

Stride 3: Look—and taste, taste, gustation

Depending on the combination of ingredients, the infusion may simply need to sit down for only half a day; this is a good dominion of thumb for actress spicy or pungent ingredients.

For fruits and vegetable infusions, feel free to wait a bit longer and start checking after a few days.

Smell and taste, as needed, to check. The more you experiment, y'all'll acquire some of the tell-tale signs. For example, strawberries lose their color once the infusion is complete, while the lurid in citrus fruit will start to interruption down.

If the flavor isn't at that place yet, no problem. Just seal the jar back up and check it again later. Whatever flavors you determine to create, your infusion should exist ready within a month, at most.

Step iv: Strain

One time the flavor has developed to your liking, strain the contents of the container. Use a double layer of cheesecloth or line a fine-mesh sieve with cheesecloth to make sure all sediment is removed.

Strain the finished spirits into a clean container.

Stride 5: Canteen

Utilise a funnel to portion the spirits into your Stonemason jars or signature bottles. One time full, seal tightly and beautifully label each bottle with its season and fundamental ingredients.

As with other liquor, store bottles in a cool, night, dry place. Your infusion should last indefinitely, but hopefully, your flavors will be and so good, information technology will barely take a shelf life!

Tips for Infusing Vodka

Pick flavorful ingredients

As yous probably know, high-quality ingredients—peculiarly in a simple recipe—make all the difference in the last product. Your herbs, spices, vegetables or fruits demand to exist at their peak of flavor and freshness. For example, yous want the firmest, most effluvious cinnamon stick you tin detect, not an older cinnamon stick that resembles a twig.

Then, make sure you thoroughly wash the ingredients. No need to rinse cloves, of course, but it'south a good thought to rinse fruits and fresh herbs.

Select a loftier-quality liquor

Whether it's vodka, bourbon, brandy or gin, y'all want a spirit that is drinkable as a standalone then the additional flavors are complements, non meant to cover or "fix" the sense of taste a cheap version could present.

To find the right spirits, sense of taste test a few pocket-sized bottles and decide what liquors present a smoothen, delicious mouthfeel, equally well every bit lingering taste. (Cheque out our guide on the all-time vodkas for every occasion!)

Use the right container

The key is to utilize a vessel that has a large opening and a secure sealing cap/lid. Make sure it'southward big enough to concord plenty of add together-ins and a sufficient corporeality of liquid to make the endeavour worthwhile. You desire at least a quart or larger, though I personally prefer two quarts or larger.

If you are out of large Mason jars at home, take a await online for local sales or check out World Market.

Flavor Combinations We Love

Vodka

Wait for good-quality vodka that's smooth and virtually tasteless to provide a wonderful properties against which your flavors can smoothen.

Strawberry:Mix this with lemonade for a summer drink perfect for patio weather.
Pickle vodka: This is actually tasty in a Bloody Mary!
Lemon vodka:Tart and refreshing on its ain and delicious in Martinis and more than.

Bourbon and Whiskey

Bourbon and whiskey often have lovely notes of vanilla, caramel, oak, honey or fifty-fifty brown carbohydrate. Play upon its natural elements and raise the flavors with these combos:

Apples and cinnamon:Craving a drink that tastes like fall? This is the combo you've been waiting for.
Orange peel:Orange and bourbon are a great duo. Steep orange peels in bourbon and add extra warming spices like cinnamon, cloves or nutmeg.
Vanilla:Wondering what to do with the vanilla bean pods leftover from your recipe? Utilise them to flavor your favorite spirit.
Cranberry: This is a not bad sipper around the holidays. Start a batch early on in the fall and enjoy over Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Brandy

Brandy is as well a astounding liquor to warm up with on wintertime nights. It's also what Wisconsinites love in their version of an Old Fashioned.

Tart cherry:Steep dried cherries in brandy for a mix that'll go perfect in any Erstwhile Fashioned.
Apple:While apple tree brandy is a liqueur all on its ain, you can brand your own version with any type of apples yous like all-time.

Gin

Permit's talk gin. Made with juniper berries, gin has a singled-out pine scent and flavor. Build upon this note with more than botanicals and fresh produce.

Cucumber:Fresh cucumber and crisp gin is a friction match fabricated in heaven. Use it in a Cucumber Gin Smash for extra crisp season.
Lemon:Give your Tom Collins a citrusy caput start by infusing lemon pare with your go-to gin.
Rosemary or thyme:Attempt a gin martini infused with herbs.

How to Sip Your Infused Spirits

young woman pouring cocktail from cocktail shaker into glass at home Jamie Grill/Getty Images

Keep in mind that infusions are bursting with flavor, thanks to your difficult work. Serve your spirits in whatsoever of these archetype ways:

Neat (from the bottle right into your drinking glass)
Straight up (shaken with water ice, poured into a glass, similar a martini)
On the rocks (on water ice)
Mixed with soda or tonic water

Cheers, newly-minted mixologist! Go along, accept fun and create succulent infusions to share with the ones you love.

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Source: https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/how-to-infuse-vodka-bourbon-brandy-and-gin/