Make Your Own Vanilla Alcohol
Vanilla Infussed Alcohol
Equipment
- Mason Jar
- Knife
- Measuring Cup
Ingredients
- 1 Vanilla Pod
- 300 ml Alcohol (Vodka/bourbon/etc) (1 1/2 Cups)
Instructions
- Add the alcohol to a mason jar.
- Cut a vanilla pod into thirds.
- Add the beans to mason jar and seal.
- Store in a dark location for 7 to 10 days.
- Remove the vanilla pod pieces.
Notes
Infusing Your Alcohol with Vanilla
Vanilla alcohol is one of the easiest things you can make. It’s also really cost effective to make your own. Commercially available varieties can be filled with all kinds of enigmatic ingredients, notably sugar. A sweetened base liquor can really throw off a cocktail recipe, making something unholy sweet.
The most common spirit infused with vanilla is vodka, but it’s possible to flavor other alcohols, like bourbon. Bourbon actually works particular well and allows you to make some great cocktails, like this Vanilla Coke cocktail.
Vanilla vodka can be used to enhanced a number of cocktails, from Screwdrivers to White Russians, as well as simply being enjoyed as a shot.
The beauty of infusing alcohol with vanilla is that it’s a wonderful starting point for home alchemy. No need to stir, shake, or do anything else. The mixture just needs to sit in a dark place for about a week. After seven days, you can check the taste, which should be great at this point.
If you’re using vodka, which is clear, it should have turned a slight copper color. The mixture should be quite fragrant. The taste should have hints of vanilla, without being overbearing. The idea is to add notes of flavor. Your infused liquor should still contain some of its original characteristics. If you’re happy with the taste, this would be time to remove the pod. If it’s not strong enough for your taste, let it sit for a day or two more.
Since the vanilla pods need to be removed, it’s not a good idea not use the vodka bottle. It’s quite difficult to fish out the pod pieces.
Choosing the Right Vanilla & Alcohol
Novices tend to either spend too much on their ingredients or spend too little. In the case of vodka, the beginner’s trap is purchasing the cheapest bottle in the shop. The thought process being that the vanilla flavors will hide the poor quality of the vodka. This is wrong. A good middle of the road option is best. Kirkland’s vodka is solid choice. It’s high quality and inexpensive.
Vanilla pods are entirely different. Most consumers have no experience purchasing them, thus have no frame of reference. Most buyers tend to overspend in this area. Vanilla quality is graded, based on how plump and juicy the beans are. Grade A is the highest quality, and is most expensive. It’s also overkill for what we are doing here.
Grade B vanilla beans are perfect.
When it comes to the spirits, you don’t want to use anything super expensive or extremely high quality. A great option is the Kirkland American Vodka. It’s cheap and high quality. For bourbon I’ve used Four Roses red label, which is a bottom shelf bourbon that sell for about $10 in Japan. It’s nothing I’d want to sip straight, but works amazing well here.
Vanilla Beans Can Keep Going
You can, of course, throw away the vanilla pods after your infusion is complete. Or, you could re-purpose them. Vanilla beans are like Duracell batteries; they keep going and going. Also, they are on the expensive side. We like getting our money’s worth.
Here are a few suggestions for your recycled vanilla beans:
*The marinated cherry recipe doesn’t specially call for vanilla pods, but they can be added.