There are so many flavored vodkas for infusion: from mango to bacon, the possibilities are practically endless. So why not try to prepare your favorite one and save some money as well? You can have a story to tell at the next party, give an infusion or try your hand at preparing some absurd but delicious cocktails. Follow the steps in this article to learn how to flavor vodka.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Infusion for a week
Choose and Prepare the Ingredients
Step 1. Choose the vodka
As it is easy to imagine, “if the foundations are not solid, the building collapses”. So if the basic vodka you use doesn't taste good, and maybe it's stored in plastic bottles, don't expect the infusion to work wonders, as you'll be flavoring a liquid that already has a chemical aftertaste. Choose a medium quality alcohol, a discreet but not elite product.
Step 2. Choose the flavor
You can be as creative or traditional as you like. Nowadays, everything is used to flavor vodka, from whipped cream to bacon (don't misjudge the latter until you've tasted it). Also decide how intense you want the flavor to be and get plenty of fruit, berries, pepper or herbs (or bacon). You also don't have to limit yourself to just one ingredient. Here are some suggestions:
- Use only one ingredient if you want to make vodka more interesting. You can evaluate mango, orange peel, watermelon, apple, blueberry, vanilla, cinnamon, basil, chili, horseradish, or bacon.
- Try combining chilli with horseradish and bacon to make the best Bloody Mary you've ever tasted.
- Combine orange peels with cinnamon for a winter drink by the fireplace on a cold evening. If you want to recreate the Christmas mood, combine cranberries with a vanilla bean.
- Combine mango, pineapple and passion fruit - you'll feel like you're on a beach of fine sand sipping the best drink you've ever had. For other ideas read the 'Tips' section.
- Get the right amount of ingredients you need to infuse. Vodka (anyone who has tasted it once knows) has a distinctive flavor. To reduce and cover this natural flavor with the ingredient of your choice, you need to work on the quantities of fruit, spices and so on. Use the following guidelines to guide you in flavoring a quart of vodka.
- If you have decided to use fruit, get 1 to 3 fruits, depending on their size. As a yardstick think of the size of an apple; for larger fruits (e.g. pomegranate) one piece is sufficient. If you have decided to use plums, apricots or similar fruit, it is better to take three pieces.
- For fresh herbs, you can measure one to three full handfuls, depending on the strength of the aroma. If the herbs (or spices) are dry, cut the quantities in half.
- If you have decided to use berries, put about a full cup of about 250ml (but feel free to use more).
- In the case of chillies, the choice is up to you. The more you add and the longer you leave them to infuse, the spicier the final product will be.
Step 3. Prepare the ingredients
If you infuse dirty fruit with soil, you will experience awkward moments during the party when you find yourself with sand in your teeth. To prevent this from happening, carefully wash all fresh ingredients (except dry spices of course). The next steps depend on the ingredients:
- Slice the fruit finely to increase the contact surface with the vodka. Remove the pits, seeds, and stems. If you have decided to use large fruits like mango or pineapple, cut them into coarse pieces.
- If you use citrus fruits (oranges and lemons), help yourself with a potato peeler to separate the colored part of the peel from the pith (the white part). The albedo is bitter and could give the product a bad taste.
- Leave the berries whole, but lightly mash them with your hands as you remove the stems.
- Gently crush the herbs to release the aromas. If you are using vanilla pods, slice them lengthwise without separating the two halves (you need to form a 'V').
- Make a central incision in the chillies but without going too deep because the seeds should not come out.
- If you have decided to use bacon, you only need to take the fat and not the meaty part. Cook several strips of smoked bacon and then drain the fat. For a 750ml bottle of vodka you will need 2 tablespoons of bacon fat.
Flavor the Vodka
Step 1. Put all the ingredients in a clean and airtight container
A glass jar with a lid is the best choice for this task. The amount of vodka you want to flavor (a whole bottle, half, or so on) will determine how many jars you need. It is usually best to cut the ingredients in half and divide them equally into two jars. However, if you have a large enough container, you can flavor an entire bottle of vodka in it.
The proportions between the various aromas vary according to personal taste alone
Step 2. Infuse
Fill the jar with vodka, seal it and put it in a safe place. You can store it in the refrigerator to keep the vodka fresh or leave it on the kitchen counter. The important thing is to keep it out of direct sunlight.
Step 3. Wait and shake
The timing is unscientific, but most recipes tell you to wait two to five days. As a general rule, citrus fruits or highly aromatic ingredients release their flavor very quickly, while fibrous ones (such as vanilla pods or fresh ginger) need a week or more. Shake the jar once a day to speed up the brewing process. To make sure that the vodka has taken on the flavor you want, taste it after a couple of days and then every day until the aroma reaches the intensity you prefer.
Some recommend waiting two weeks or more, but this time is necessary for large quantities. Seven days is more than enough for a one liter bottle
Step 4. Filter the liquid
Once the vodka has absorbed all the aromas, you need to pour it, filter it, into another bottle. You can use a funnel and a metal strainer for this process. The simplest thing to do is to put the liquor back in the original bottle, but you can also consider using a new bottle, perhaps colored or decorated, that you can buy in the glass or craft shop (especially if you are making vodka. to give it away).
- The reason why it is important to filter the vodka is that if you do not do this the fruit and spices continue to macerate and make the flavor stronger and stronger (it is a challenge for anyone to drink a vodka in which chillies have been steeped for a while. month).
- Don't throw away the ingredients. If you have used fruit to flavor alcohol, you can eat it. It will be rich in flavor and alcohol, so don't eat it if you have to drive.
Step 5. Taste and enjoy vodka
Method 2 of 2: Quick Recipe
This is a quick method that also works for flavoring olive oil.
Step 1. Prepare the spices or fruit as described in the previous section
Step 2. Pour the liquid into a whipped cream can, such as those that contain a nitrous oxide cartridge
Step 3. Insert the cartridge and let it rest for one minute
Step 4. Replace the cartridge with a new one and shake the container for another minute
Step 5. Place the bottle vertically, pointing the nozzle into an inverted glass held in turn over another glass
Gently squeeze the can button to release the gas.
Hold the dispenser upright, if you turn it upside down you splash out the liquid, the upside down glass will trap any splashes
Step 6. Once all the gas is out, break the container and pour the liquid, filtering it, into a glass
Advice
- Use fresh fruit and ingredients and avoid canned ones.
- You can also flavor other liqueurs: gin, rum, whiskey and even brandy.
- If you plan to leave the infusion jar exposed, be aware that the fruit will lose color over time. Strawberries, for example, will turn white!
- If you get too intense a result, dilute it with more vodka and let it steep a little longer.
- You can try using some fruit candies, preferably if they are your favorite.
- Also try adding some dried fruit such as chestnuts, peanuts or almonds. To enrich their flavor and release their natural oils, toast them in the oven before adding them to vodka.
- Don't be discouraged if, on your first attempts, you don't get fantastic results. Most of the time it will be necessary to make changes to the type of ingredients, their quantity and also the quality of the vodka.
- Try 2 cinnamon sticks and half a vanilla bean. After 2 weeks you will get a nice orange color and a rich and spicy flavor. During the summer, also try the craft ginger beer.
- Unless you're trying to counteract a particularly bitter ingredient, don't add sugar to the brew. Natural flavors normally don't need it. In any case, you can add a non-alcoholic and sugary drink at the time of serving.
- In Sweden, herbal flavored vodka is known as 'schnapp' and is a key ingredient of the Christmas buffet.
- Try using coffee capsules or tea bags or herbal teas.
