How to infuse vodka at home PLUS 5 infused vodka cocktail recipes
Vodka infusions are surprisingly simple to create and are hugely rewarding. Plus, they can make a great gift.
Recipes: Vodka Room
Home-infused vodka makes for quite the dinner party starter with admiring ooh’s and ahhh’s from your guests, or a beautiful gift (bottled in a mason jar, tied with twine and presented with a card for the recipe).
GUIDELINES FOR CREATING VODKA INFUSIONS:
1. Source a set of bottles, mason jars are a good option. With one bottle of vodka, you’ll be able to create a few different types of infusions to share with guests..
2. Choose your vodka. You’re looking for a neutral, unflavoured vodka to absorb the flavours of the ingredients you use. Vodka Room use Skyy for their infusions.
3. Infusion times vary based on the ingredients used. Fruits take longer to develop in comparison to tea which builds a flavour profile very quickly.
4. Infuse and shake. Give your infusions a little shake daily to help them along.
5. Taste! Have a nip to see how flavours develop and progress. You’ll find you may prefer stronger flavours and you’ll be able to taste these develop as time passes.
6. Once you’re happy with the flavour, strain the infusing agents from the alcohol through a fine mesh strainer lined with a coffee filter to remove any sediment, re-bottle and store in the fridge or freezer.
7. Enjoy neat as an aperitif to clean the palate, or as a digestif. Feeling adventurous? Use your infusions as a base for cocktails.
Short on time? Create an infusion in one day or less
Candy Floss Vodka Infusion
INGREDIENTS
200ml unflavoured vodka
50g of Pink candy floss
METHOD
Add all ingredients into a 400ml jar. The cotton candy will dissolve straight away. It can be used immediately if in a rush or let it sit for a day for the sugars to mix through. Shake before use.
Cocktail recipe: Lazy Cotton Candy Cosmopolitan
In a shaker full of ice add 45ml of the vodka mix.
Add 15ml of Cointreau.
Add 15ml of fresh lime juice.
Shake and strain into a martini or champagne coupe glass.
Other simple 1-day infusions; earl grey or lapsang souchong tea (simply add a tea bag to 200mls of unflavoured vodka).
One Week Infusions
BEETROOT INFUSED VODKA
INGREDIENTS
200ml unflavoured vodka
1 baby beetroot finely julienned (about 5mm thick)
METHOD
Add all ingredients into a 400ml jar. Sit for at least 1 day.
Cocktail recipe: Beetroot lemonade
DRINK METHOD
In a glass full of ice add 30ml of the beetroot vodka.
Half top with lemonade or if you have a dry lemonade top to full.
BASIL BLUEBERRY INFUSED VODKA
INGREDIENTS
200ml unflavoured vodka
1 pint blueberries, rinsed
Handful of basil
METHOD
Transfer 1/2 the blueberries to sealable jar or container. Slightly smash them open so the flavours can be released. Muddle the basil leaves with a mortar and pestle (or use your hands to rip the leaves apart). Place in jar with the blueberries and add vodka. Seal jar and steep. Check daily and add more blueberries or basil depending on the desired flavour.
Cocktail recipe: Basil Blueberry KGB
INGREDIENTS
Glassware-Tall Glass (collins)
45ml house infused blueberry and basil vodka
30ml lemon juice
20ml sugar syrup
METHOD
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and combine all the ingredients. Half fill the tall glass with ice and double strain.
Cocktail recipe Black Bear made with blackberry vodka
INGREDIENTS
45ml house infused blackberry vodka
15ml lemon juice
15ml sugar syrup
15ml crème de mure
METHOD
Combine all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker fill up with ice and shake. Double strain into a martini glass.
Other simple 1-week infusions; plum (simply add 5 plums for every 200ml of unflavoured vodka) blackberry (simply add 50g for every 200ml of unflavoured vodka)
One Week Infusion
CUCUMBER INFUSED VODKA
INGREDIENTS
200ml unflavoured vodka
4 large slices (about 1cm thick) of a fragrant cucumber (dependent on season but we used a telegraph cucumber).
METHOD
Sit for 1 to 2 days.
Cocktail recipe: Cucumber Tonic
DRINK METHOD:
In a glass full of ice add 30ml of the cucumber vodka
Top with tonic water.
