Cheers

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

1. 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 fruit.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
2. Preparation. Wash and slice the fruits (this will speed up infusion by increasing surface area). However, leave berries whole. 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.
   
   
   
3. Infuse! Fill the container with vodka, seal it, and put it some place safe and away from direct sunlight.
   
   
   
4. Wait a week or two. The timing isn't scientific but at least wait five days. Generally, citrus fruits or strongly flavored ingredients might infuse in less than a week, but softly flavored or fibrous ingredients (strawberries, pineapple or fresh ginger) may need up to two weeks. Luckily, you need not do anything but ignore the jar.
   



5. 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

• Start with cheap vodkas, as you will probably make mistakes through trial and error before getting it right.
  


• There's a wide variety 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.
  
  
• Adding a sprinkle of sugar on the fruit can enhance and speed up the infusion process, especially if your creations are turning out to be a little too weak in the flavour department.
  


• Another spirit that infuses well is Cachaca, a Brazilian rum made from pressed sugar cane.
  
  
• In Sweden, infused vodkas are known as schnapps, and a customary part of the Christmas smorgasbord.
  
  

Warnings

• Chutney, kiwi and apple are probably best avoided as an infusion ingredient.
  
  
• 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!
  

Things You'll Need

• 750mL - 1L Vodka.
  
  
• Infuser (Fruit, peppers, herbs, berries, etc.)
  
  
• Jar with airtight sealing lid.
  
  
• Time.
  

Peace,

DeMo