How to Build a Vodka Infuser
Flavored vodkas have become prevalent over the past few years. But the name-brand bottles can get pricey. If you want to experiment with your own vodka flavors at home, you can build a vodka infuser quickly and inexpensively. Try combining different flavors in small batches and taking notes so you can make larger batches of the best results. Have a tasting party and show off your infusion skills to your friends. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Large airtight jar, preferable with spigot
- Glass marbles
- Cheesecloth
- Long tweezers or tongs
- Vodka
- Flavoring agents, such as fruit, spices and herbs
Instructions
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1
Find the glass jar for the infusion. You can use a mason jar or by a special infusion jar with a spigot at the bottom. Look for one that's at least 1.5 liters and is airtight. Housewares stores, craft stores and hardware stores often carry these. You also need enough glass marbles to make a 4-inch layer in the bottom of the jar, if it has a spigot.
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2
Clean the jar and the glass marbles thoroughly with soap and warm water. Dry them completely.
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3
Put the marbles into the jar to act as a filter and keep the spigot from clogging.
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4
Fill the jar with vodka and add your flavoring agent. If your flavor is something that doesn't naturally hold together or that may fall apart when soaked, loosely wrap it in cheesecloth before adding it. This method can be used for flavorings like peppercorns, almonds or cinnamon sticks.
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Store the jar in a cool, dry place. Strong flavors like vanilla, lemons, limes or jalapeno peppers will only require about three days of infusing. Milder flavors like apple, pineapple and mango should infuse for up to three weeks. Occasional sampling of your vodka infusion will help you determine when it's done.
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Remove the flavoring agent from the finished vodka using the tweezers or tongs, and store it in the jar until it's consumed. If you prefer, you can pour the vodka back into the original bottle for storage. Once the jar is empty, clean it and the marbles thoroughly.
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Tips & Warnings
Homemade infusions can often taste much stronger and better than their store-bought equivalents.
If the marbles aren't effective enough at filtering the fruit pulp or other small particles from your vodka, straining your final product through a coffee filter should do the trick.
The vodka will likely change color during the infusion process.
References
- Photo Credit Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images
