One reason vodka is used so much in drink recipes is that it tends to add a little pizazz to the concoction without adding much flavor of its own. That changes, however, when using an infused vodka.
Add fruit to make a sweet cocktail base with flavors like apple, blueberry and watermelon. Go exotic with vodka flavors like chili pepper, basil and peppercorn. The strength of the flavor all depends on what tantalizes the taste buds.
Items Needed to Make Infused Vodka
The basic tools needed to make infused vodkas are a large empty wide-mouth glass jar with a cover, a funnel and a strainer with tiny holes (like a tea strainer).
The jar, of course, is where the infusion occurs. A wide mouth allows for use of larger pieces of fruits. If using the original bottle the vodka comes in, it becomes necessary to chop the ingredients into tiny pieces. It's also important that the jar be glass since plastic adds a medicine-like taste to the infusion.
The strainer is for when the infusing is done, to make sure nothing but the vodka ends up back in the bottle. In lieu of a strainer, a coffee filter will also work but it may make the straining process more difficult.
The funnel helps when pouring the vodka into the narrow neck of the bottle. It's okay if the funnel and strainer are plastic as the infused vodka merely passes through them. It's not touching the plastic long enough to pick up a funky taste.
How to Make Infused Vodka
- Pour the vodka and the item being used to flavor the vodka into the wide-mouth jar. Make sure the vodka completely covers the item.
- Secure the jar lid and save the empty vodka bottle to refill with the infused creation later.
- Place the jar in a cool dark place for one to two weeks, depending on the recipe. If putting the jar into a refrigerator, wrap the jar with a dish towel to help keep out the light from those midnight snack raids.
- Gently shake the jar three or four times a week to circulate the vodka around the added ingredient.
- When the mixture is ready, pour it through a strainer (or coffee filter) into the original empty vodka bottle, using the funnel.
Infused vodka, kept in a cool place, will generally keep its flavor for 9-12 months.
It's important to note that the better the quality of vodka used in these recipes, the better the end results will be. It's also possible to make smaller quantities, but the infusion time will be shorter due to the smaller container and lesser amount of vodka used.
Want to give it a try? Here are five fruit flavor infused vodkas to make at home.
Blueberry-infused Vodka
Ingredients:
- 1 750ml bottle of vodka
- 3 cups blueberries, washed and halved
Follow directions above. This recipe can also be adapted using the same amount of raspberries or other berry.
French Apple-infused Vodka
Ingredients:
- 1 750ml bottle of vodka
- 2 green apples, cubed
- 1 vanilla bean
Follow directions above, with one exception. Do not add the vanilla bean at first. If you do, it will completely overpower the apple taste.
Wait until after the one to two week infusion period, when the vodka tastes like the apples, then add a one inch slice of the vanilla bean. Let the mixture sit in the cool dark place for an additional 24 to 48 hours.
Strain and bottle as per above directions.
Lemon or Lime-infused Vodka
Ingredients:
- 1 750ml bottle of vodka
- 2 cups of Meyer Lemons or Key Limes, washed and thinly sliced
Follow directions above to fill jar. The difference will be in the storage time. Citrus has a strong flavor, so check every two or three days. When you feel the taste of the lemons or limes is strong enough, it's ready to strain and bottle.
As a variant, use 1 1/2 cups lemon and 1/2 cup lime to make a lemon-lime vodka
Pear-infused Vodka
Ingredients:
- 1 750ml bottle of vodka
- 6 Bartlett pears, cut into eight pieces each
Follow directions above.
Watermelon-infused Vodka
Ingredients:
- 1 750ml bottle of vodka
- 3 1/2 cups cubed watermelon
Follow directions above.
These infused vodkas are great to drink as shots, sipped over ice, or mixed into drinks. It's also nice to give a bottle as a gift to a friend.
Michelle Snow - Michelle Snow been a freelance journalist and photographer for over twenty years, specializing in travel and entertainment. She got her ...
Join the Conversation