DIY Alcohol Infusions

Step up your bar game with DIY infusions – it’s easy! All you need is a container, a bottle of vodka and your favorite fruit or herbs at peak ripeness. Using a 1 to 1 ratio, try mixing vodka with cucumber, blueberries or lemon peel in a mason jar. Or steep a vanilla bean or fresh mint leaves in vodka to make a vanilla or mint extract you can use in baking. The alcohol will evaporate in the oven.

If you’re not a vodka fan, try mixing tequila with watermelon or jalapeno (tequila should be infused using half a jalapeno for 12 ounces of tequila). Rum works well with mango or lime peel. If you want to use all those late summer and early fall fruits crowding the farmers markets, combine bourbon with apples, figs or plums.

Once your infusion is safely settled in a mason jar, give it a good shake and place it in a cool, dark place. Some infusions taste best after a couple of days or even weeks, while others only need an hour or two. Taste your infusion often until it has the flavor you like best. Just be sure to give it a good shake daily.

When your infusion is complete, strain it through a cheesecloth and drink it on the rocks, mix it with a simple syrup or experiment with making your own signature cocktail.