My boyfriend and I recently discovered a spicy jalapeño vodka drink at a local restaurant, and we have been determined to learn how to recreate it so we can serve it at our own dinner parties. It has been so much fun experimenting with different types of ingredients and really transforming this cocktail into our own. We messed around with different jalapeño muddling techniques and adding different types of peppers, but what finally really made the difference was infusing the vodka with jalapeños.
Since this little experiment, we have been infusing vodka with all different types of fruits, peppers, and spices to give our own unique spin to some of our favorite cocktails.
We used to go to cocktail bars and read the cocktail menus and think there was no way that we could reconfigure these drinks at home since most of them involved self-infused vodkas. Infusing liquor seemed so formal and fancy to me that I didn’t think it was something we could easily do…but boy was I wrong! Infusing vodka is seriously so simple and just involves 5-10 minute prep time and a few days of infusion…then voila…you have your own personally infused vodka that will last for years! (or minutes since it’s so tasty!)
Infusing vodka involves just a few easy steps:
- Pick your vodka. You can use either 80 or 100-proof vodka. Being down in Texas, I like to use Tito’s Vodka, as that has become a personal favorite of mine, but you really can use any type of vodka that you like!
- Choose what you want to infuse. This is where you can get creative! There are so many fun variations that you can make…blueberries, strawberries, pineapples, peppers, jalapenos, peppercorns, cinnamon sticks, vanilla bean…the list goes on and on. However, my absolute favorite is a combination of strawberry and basil leaves! It tastes so sweet and fresh and is easy to incorporate in a variety of cocktails.
- Prepare your fruit/mixture and add to a canning jar along with the vodka. I use a 2:3 ratio of fruit to vodka, but this just depends on how much flavor you want. I don’t like vodka alone, so I like to add a good amount of fruit so it absorbs more flavoring. Cover the canning jar and place in a dark closet or somewhere away from the sunlight at room temperature
- Infuse for 3 to 5 days, shaking the jar 3 times each day. I usually just watch it over those days and wait until the fruit has lost most of its color and the vodka has absorbed it.
- Separate the vodka from the fruit or vegetable using a strainer. The fruit can now be thrown away.
- Pour the vodka into a separate canning jar or bottle and store until ready to use!
You now have your own personally infused vodka that will WOW your guests at cocktail parties! I would love to hear about your favorite infusions or cocktails that you have made! Please feel free to comment below! Can’t wait to hear what you come up with!
Cheers!
2 Comments
I was by inspired by your infusions and set out to do my first infusion last week. As you said “get creative”, I infused vodka with orange peel. A little tip here – you have to be careful to include the zest only and avoid the pith as far as possible, else it will add a bitter taste. Next, I plan to mix it with a simple syrup and then use it with cocktails. You can also drink it straight if you are up for it.
Thanks for your post!!!
Hi Shay!
I am so glad this post inspired you! The orange peel sounds absolutely delicious! I appreciate the “zest only” tip, and I will definitely have to try this one out as well! Such a great idea!
Can’t wait to hear what kind of cocktails you make!!
Kate