Infused Vodkas- Another use for your extra fruits!

OK, before I even start I just want to say, there will be no judging me 😊 Just because this is my 3rd recipe and two of them have had Vodka as the main ingredient doesn’t necessarily mean that I am known on a first name basis at the ABC Store. And did you know they are open on Sundays? 😊 😊 😊 All seriousness, I never really sipped bourbon or whiskey, but now I like some mixed drinks, made with Vodka. Notice I didn’t lie and say I like a mixed drink, because I normally like 3, real well. After our banner year with blackberries, I was putting them in everything and so I was excited when I found out how easy Infusions are. We thought a cup and a half of sugar in each of these was perfect, but you can certainly omit the sugar. To us the sugar makes it a sipper! We have become quite fond of Infused Vodkas here at Q'berry Farms, Blackberry in particular. Great little Sipper or after dinner dessert Sip. The World is yours on combos for Infusions. Please Let me know your ideas or if you are already making your own.

Ingredients List for Blackberry Infused Vodka
• Quart-sized canning jar
• Cheese cloth
• 3 cups of fresh blackberries
• 1.5 cups of sugar
• Enough vodka to fill up the jar

Process
Rinse your berries good and remove any that are too soft or have spots, etc. I use a funnel to transfer the berries to a quart jar. Next, Pour the sugar in and then fill the jar with Vodka. Stir the berries and sugar to let the vodka settle in. You may need to add a little more vodka but I leave enough head room so you can get a good shake. Put the lid on and you are all set. Blackberry shown on right, below.

I shake mine once a day for a month. Then I shake once or twice a week for 3 months. This can be sat on your counter if you want. I left mine on our open shelves and there is a lot of light but not direct light. At the end of 3 months strain the liquid thru a cheesecloth. I take the fruit and work all the juice out of it and then strain that thru the cheesecloth. A 3rd straining will help your Vodka be more clear, unless you are over it by now :)

I use jars to store mine in or reuse liquor bottles. We brought this bottle back from Africa, so I love reusing it. You can make so many variations of this and following the same process. Let me know what creations you come up with. Blackberry happens to be our favorite and was sipped very quickly 😊 This is our bottled Blackberry.

Ingredients List for Apple Pie Infused Vodka
• 3 cups of apples (I have used all wild apples once and mixed store bought once )
• 1 or 2 vanilla beans cut in half
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1.5 cups of Sugar
• Enough Vodka to fill the jar

Follow same process as Blackberry above. Apple Pie shown below.

Ingredients List for Pineapple Basil Infused Vodka

• 2 cans of pineapple chunks and save the juice for martinis later.
Or 14oz pineapple cores cut into chunks. I save and freeze mine for this.
• 1 vanilla bean cut in half
• 8-10 fresh basil leaves (I freeze basil leaves during the summer in ice cubes)

Follow same process as Blackberry above. Pineapple Basil shown below.

Notes:
In a short time the basil leaves will start looking like algae. That is ok.
I have used scraped, used vanilla beans in the Pineapple infusion before and it was delish.
The Apple Pie and Blackberry are great sipping Vodkas.
The Pineapple was all used in Martinis. I used my saved frozen pineapple juice like a simple syrup and added some water. These were Very refreshing and light. Be careful. I wanted a straw :)

Bottled Pineapple Basil Infused Vodka and Apple Pie Infused Vodka

Happy Infusing!![]