Homemade Infused Vodka - Great Gift for Christmas or Any Occasion

Homemade infused vodka decanted into decorative bottles with ornamental labels targeted at the recipient, make wonderful gifts for drinking age adults, having the bonus of injecting some artificial Christmas cheer should your family Christmas gathering need some lightening up.

Homemade Infused Vodka - What do you need?

• First and foremost - Vodka. The vodka you purchase doesn't need to be top shelf quality, given that it will be infused with a variety of flavors, but don't go too cheap either. No amount of flavoring can hide that the base ingredient is basically paint stripper.
• Something to infuse the vodka with. Let your imagination run wild. Coffee beans for a java junkie, cinnamon sticks for Christmas flavors, your favorite candy. There is nothing quite as spectacular as a row of backlit vodka bottles infusing with different colored jelly beans ...
• Decorative bottles - These can be purchased or collect bottles throughout the year. New or re-used sterilize bottles prior to use. Screw the original cap in place and seal with wax coordinating the wax color with you label design.
• Printable labels - design a label personalized to the recipient of the gift. Don't forget a back label which includes serving instructions, and a recipe. (Recipe links at end of article).
• Wax to seal - Screw the cap in place and seal with wax coordinating the wax color with your label design. Depending on your type of bottle this step may not be necessary.

Making Homemade Infused Vodka

• Take a large jar, add you flavor infuser to the bottom
• Pour in vodka
• Cap and store jar in a cool dark place for up to 5 days, taste testing through the period. Depending on the strength of flavor your of your infuser, some infusions will require more or less time to infuse. Add more flavor infusers to your homemade infused vodka if necessary.
• Sterilize decorative bottles
• Decant homemade infused vodka through a fine sieve into the decorative bottles. The sieve removes any particles from the flavor infusers giving you a clear liquid. The vodka may take on a color depending on the flavor infusers you use.
• Seal bottles by whatever means you choose.
• Apply decorative labels, ribbons and recipes.
• Gift, or enjoy at your Christmas or Thanksgiving gatherings.

Homemade Infused Vodka - Flavor Infusers

Good vodka claims to be both colorless and tasteless, so the base ingredient will not limit your choice of flavor infusers. The options are limited only to the gift givers imagination. The list below is provided merely to get your creative juices flowing and not intended to be complete:

• Coffee beans - crushed not ground
• Vanilla beans - again crushed
• Chilies - for a bit of heat
• Jelly beans - target a particular flavor. For example, black jelly beans will provide an aniseed flavored end product.
• Mint - either the fresh herb crushed, or mint candy. The latter will also provide some sweetness. Take this into consideration for your final serving suggestions.
• Cinnamon sticks - for a seasonal flavor.
• Basil - the distinctive flavor of the fresh crushed herb infused in vodka makes for a sensational pineapple basil vodka martini.
• Lemon Rind.
• Cucumbers - For a refreshing Cucumber Martini
• Ginger

Homemade Infused Vodka Recipes

Probably the simplest serving suggestion is to pour homemade infused vodka over ice. On the rocks or frappe style over crushed ice, the chill adds another dimension to your drink. But to taste the full effect of the flavor infuser, try a shot neat.

If straight liquor isn't your style, sweeten your infused vodka by adding seven up or sprite.

But half the fun of infusing vodka is testing your own recipes. Some ideas based on the infusers listed above include:

• Pineapple Basil Vodka Martini
• Choc Mint Martini
• Mocha Martini
• Lemon Drop Martini
• Cucumber Martini

Or if experimentation isn't for you, there is a host of options online. Some great recipes can be found at the links below:

• Ginger Infused Vodka Bloody Mary Recipe As an alternative substitute the Ginger infused vodka with Chile infused vodka.
• To get in the Halloween spirit try Candy Corn Cordials made with Candy Corn infused vodka
• Or Blueberry Pie Martinis with Blueberry and Vanilla infused vodkas. Of course the options with this recipe are not limited to Blueberries. Substitute Apple infused vodka and you have an apple pie martini instead.

Once you get started creating cocktails from your homemade vodka infusions, your imagination will soar. Just remember to drink responsibly, and please, never drink and drive.

Cheers and Happy Holidays!

Sources:

Personal Experimentation
Vodka Infusions at epicurean.com
Vodka Infusion Parties at CocktailTimes.com

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