What does it mean to infuse Vodka? Simply put, to infuse anything means to “soak”. So, when you infuse Vodka, you’re soaking some tasty ingredients with non-flavored Vodka to create a masterpiece (hopefully). We’re here to help you level up your Vodka game and show you a way that is pretty much guaranteed to make you the go-to friend for drink creations.
1. Go get your Vodka
The main thing to remember here is to get an unflavored Vodka. If you get anything that has a flavor, yours will be tainted. Some Vodkas have underlying floral or citrus notes, so get something as “pure” as possible. You can go as expensive or budget-friendly as you like!
2. Choose your device
What you keep your mixture in is a key step in the process. The best way to get the most out of your infusion is going to be glass. With that being said, something to think about is the shape of the vessel. You could just add items into the vodka bottle itself, but the small opening might be inconvenient if you’re having to force ingredients through it. A safe bet is to get a wide mason jar. Depending on how much you’re wanting to make, you could get a half-gallon for big batches or 16 oz glasses for small test batches. Plus, they look pretty cool if you’re leaving your creations out for people to see.
3. Pick & prepare ingredients
Now we’re getting into the creative part! Let your imagination run wild. Since Vodka is pretty neutral in flavor, you really can’t go TOO wrong. For this step you’ll want to choose the ingredients you’d like to use and then get them prepped. Chopped, cut, peeled, etc. Each ingredient needs to be shown its own special love, so once you choose, read up on how to best prepare it for optimum absorption. But how do you choose?
What are the best ingredients to infuse with?
There’s no wrong answer here – which is the best news, right? The only thing to consider is, “Would I actually order this, or drink it, if I was out?”. Here are some flavor profiles to think about:
Spices
Just to preface, spicy can mean two completely different things:
- Hot: Use peppers, such as habeñeros, to create an intense sensation on the taste buds of heat.
- Spiced: Ingredients such as ginger, cinnamon, clove, dill, etc. Make sure to use whole spices though because ground spices will make the Vodka cloudy and granular.
You can do one genre of spices, or mix them. Who knows, a jalepeño ginger vodka could be exactly what your palette has been missing.
Refreshing & light
These ingredients are typically used for a more refreshing vodka, light in body, and perfect for a Spring or Summer day. Top ingredients can be eucalyptus, basil, cucumber, tea, mint, etc.
Warm & cozy
If you’re looking for a Vodka flavor to warm you up on those cooler days, items such as vanilla, apples, cinnamon, and dates will do the trick.
Fruity & sweet
Although not all fruits are super sugary, they do have that hint of sweetness within them. Try using watermelon, strawberry, pineapple, or peach in your Vodka to give it a little “umph”. Maybe even create a Halloween inspired Vodka using candy like skittles or starburst.
4. Start infusing
This is where the magic happens. This is the easiest, but most time consuming step, mostly because you have to wait for a few days for the end result.
- Add your chosen ingredient(s) to your jar(s)
- Add desired amount of Vodka
- Close the jar tightly
Now we wait. Typically, depending on how flavorful you want your creation, you’d want to wait between 3-7 days. This time suggestion is subjective because it’s up to you how much you want the ingredients to appear in the Vodka.
Pro tip: The fresher the ingredients, the faster they will infuse.
5. Strain, store, drink
Once you’ve decided that the Vodka is to your liking, strain the mixture so that the ingredients are completely removed. Strain one more time and pour the leftover liquid into whatever container you want to store it in. Don’t be afraid to restrain as many times as you’d like, especially if it looks murky. You’ll most likely want to use something other than the infusion jar for storing, just in case you want to get a head start on making a new Vodka flavor. Plus, infused Vodka lasts forever…unless you drink it all!
Storage tip: Any Vodka infused with perishables should be stored in a dark, cool place.
Pre-infused Vodka
Just in case you’re not actually going to be doing this yourself, here’s a list of brands that have already done it for you:
Now, you might be wondering, “Does infused vodka have less alcohol?”. The answer is no. The infusion process does not remove any alcohol, only adds flavor. There’s really no downside to infused Vodka!
There you have it. Are you excited to get started? In our opinion, creating a unique Vodka of your own is fun, but having it to share with friends is even better. Although, if it’s too good, sharing might be off the table. Make sure to share your work of art with us once you get your infusion set up. Cheers!
