How to Infuse Vodka With Flavor
Infusing your own vodka is the best way to add a twist and have a story to tell with every cocktail when entertaining. With plenty of your favorite vodka, a jar, some fruit, a discriminating palate and spare time, you can customize your vodka and make it your own.
Steps: Choose a flavor. Decide how you want your vodka to taste, and get plenty of the desired fruits, berries, peppers or herbs.
If infusing fruit, use 1-3 good sized pieces.
If infusing herbs, use 1-2 fists filled of the herb (depending upon the potency of the herb).
If infusing berries, use 2-4 fists filled with the berries. You may also want to bruise (squish a little) them first.
If infusing peppers, use as many as you want. The more you use and the longer you infuse, the spicier the vodka will be.
Preparation. Wash and slice the fruits (this will speed up infusion by increasing surface area). However, leave berries whole after removing any stems or leaves. Place all of your ingredients together in an airtight sealed container. The relative proportions of each ingredient (if you're using more than one) are a matter of personal preference.
Infuse! Fill the container with vodka, seal it, and put it some place safe and away from direct sunlight.
Wait The timing isn't scientific but your recipe will often infuse between two and five days. Generally, citrus fruits or strongly flavored ingredients might infuse in less than a week, but softly flavored or fibrous ingredients (vanilla beans or fresh ginger) may need up to a week or more. Luckily, you need not do anything but ignore the jar. (some advice will tell you must wait two weeks or more. This may apply for larger restaurant size recipe's, but if you're infusing around 1 liter its typically shorter. (for example, 1 liter of vodka and 1 fresh sweet pineapple will create a very flavorful drink in two days).
Sample and enjoy! The first few batches you make may not taste the best, but over time you will get the hang of it. Drink, adjust, and try again!
Tips: Use a medium grade vodka - something that could be served straight up (a cheap vodka will affect the flavor).
Use fresh fruits and ingredients and not canned or prepared items.
Fruits will continue to ripen while infusing. Remove fruits before they get over ripe as it will impact the flavor of your recipe. Example: Sliced pears or apples will continue to brown. Remove them and replace with a whole fruit for decorative purposes.
There's a wide range full of fruits and herbs you can infuse with, each with their own characteristics. Experiment and enjoy.
Mellow: cantaloupe, peach, strawberry, cherry, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, pineapple, mango and vanilla beans
Sharp: lemon, lime or grapefruit
Bold: fresh ginger, lemon-grass, herbs, garlic or chili peppers
If you find your infusion too strong, dilute it with more vodka and allow it to infuse a little longer.
Try 2 sticks of cinnamon and half a vanilla pod. After two weeks you will get a deep orange colour and a full, rich spicy flavour. Try it with homemade Ginger beer in the summer - superb.
Don't add sugar to your infusion unless it is necessary to offset an extremely bitter ingredient. The natural flavors usually don't need it and you can always add a mixer when serving if that is a preference.
Another spirit that infuses well is Cachaca, a Brazilian rum made from pressed sugar cane.
You could also try using a single use coffee pod. These come in many different flavors, including vanilla.
In Sweden, infused vodkas are known as schnapps, and a customary part of the Christmas smorgasbord.
The best way to do this is to take very cheap vodka and filter it using a charcoal based filter, such as a Brita, or a home made filter using an aquarium charcoal water bath. Run the vodka four to eight times through the filter.
Warnings: If you are displaying your infusion jar, be prepared for the color to leave the fruit over time. Thus your strawberries may turn a ghostly white!
If you crush berries before adding them it will cloud the liquid and look quite unappetizing.
Things You'll Need [edit]750mL - 1L Vodka.
Infuser (Fruit, peppers, herbs, berries, etc.)
Jar with airtight sealing lid.
Time.