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How to Infuse Spirits at Home: A Step-by-Step Guide
Tired of the fake, unpleasant taste of cheap flavored spirits? While store-bought flavored spirits may be affordable and convenient, they are often made with low-grade ingredients. This means you'll need to sacrifice quality to experience different flavors. With alcohol infusion, you can still invest in your favorite premium spirits and explore a variety of flavors. The best part? It's easier than you might think.
In this guide, we'll walk you through how to infuse alcohol and spirits so you can explore complex flavors and tastes in your own home without having to go purchase those cheap, store bought flavored spirits. Here's how to get started:
What Are Spirit Infusions?
Alcohol infusion is an at-home technique to flavor your favorite spirits with different ingredients. With this technique, you can customize the taste of your favorite rum, tequila, vodka, or gin. By doing so, you can explore a variety of flavor combinations in your very own home.
Spirit infusions are commonly done with light-colored liquors like gin, vodka, Blanco tequila, or white rum. You can also use a variety of fruits, spices, or herbs to flavor your favorite spirits.
Essential Tools for Infusing Spirits at Home
The beauty of spirit infusions is that it's a budget-friendly way to get more flavors out of your favorite spirits. The only tools and supplies you'll need include:
- Light-colored spirit of your choice
- Mason jar or wide-mouth jar
- Coffee filter or mesh strainer
- Fruits, herbs, or spices you want to use for the flavor
Common Ingredients for Infused Spirits
Here comes the fun part. Infusing spirits is all about exploring new flavors. You can combine any herbs, spices, fruits, and even veggies. If you've never infused spirits before, here are a few popular ingredients to consider for your flavoring:
- Cucumber
- Rosemary
- Lemongrass
- Ginger
- Strawberry
- Cinnamon Sticks
- Jalapeno
- Lavender
- Lemon
You can also combine two or more ingredients to create a unique combination or recipe.
Best Alcohols to Infuse: Vodka, Whiskey, and More
When looking for premium spirits for an alcohol infusion, it's best to stick with light liquors with a neutral taste. These spirits offer the best base for the ingredients to flourish. However, that doesn't mean you can't explore testing out alcohol infusions with mezcal or whiskey - it just might be more challenging.
Here are the best alcohols to consider when infusing drinks:
- Vodka: Vodka offers a crisp, neutral flavor that can be expertly paired with various ingredients. Some popular options include fruit and citrus, like berries, strawberries, and lemons. Vodka can also pair well with florals and herbs, like lemongrass, lavender, and basil.
- Blanco Tequila: Known and loved for its sweet and smooth taste. Tequila can be paired with herbs like lemongrass or ginger for a crisp, pleasant flavor. You can also kick it up a notch with a jalapeno or cinnamon-infused spirit.
- Gin: Straight gin typically has a subtle botanical or citrus taste to it. This spirit is also slightly bitter and has a similar taste to vodka. Gin pairs well with fruits and vegetables, like cucumber, pear, and strawberry. You can also enhance the botanical flavors with herbs like lavender and lemongrass.
- Whiskey: Light-colored whiskeys typically have notes of vanilla, caramel, and cinnamon. If you decide to infuse whiskey, you'll want to focus on ingredients that complement or enhance the existing flavors. Some common choices include vanilla beans, cacao nibs, and cooked bacon.
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Infused Spirits
Ready to create infused spirits? Here's a step-by-step guide to help you learn how to infuse spirits at home:
- Choose your favorite spirit and ingredients you want to use
- Add your liquor into a mason jar, and make sure the jar has an airtight lid.
- Choose your ingredients and wash them thoroughly before adding them to a jar.
- Seal the jar with the airtight lid and shake it before storing it.
- Store your infused spirit in a cool place and shake it daily.
- Let the ingredients infuse with the liquor for at least three hours before trying it.
- When you're ready to drink it, use a coffee filter or strainer to strain out the remnants from the ingredients.
- Infused liquor can be stored for up to three months.
Popular Infused Spirits Recipes to Try
If you're new to alcohol infusions and want to test out a few different approaches before you get creative, here are five popular infused spirit recipes to try:
- Festive Apple Pie: IGNITE Vodka infused with apple slices and cinnamon sticks
- Summertime Strawberry Salad: IGNITE vodka with basil and strawberries
- Spicy and Balanced: IGNITE Blanco Tequila with jalapenos and cucumbers
- Botanical Garden: Gin infused with rosemary and lavender
- Fireplace Classic: Whiskey infused with vanilla beans and chai tea bags
Don't forget - the beauty of alcohol infusions is you can be as creative as you want. If the flavor doesn't come out right the first time, you can continue to add more herbs, spices, or muddled fruit until you get your desired flavor.
Explore Infused Cocktails with IGNITE Spirits
Our premium spirits are made with quality ingredients to create unmatched flavor profiles you won't find anywhere else. When paired with high-quality ingredients, our spirits can be used as the base for any flavor combination.
Find an IGNITE retailer near you.
FAQs:
What types of spirits can I infuse at home?
Vodka, tequila, and gin are light-colored spirits that are great for infusing.
How long does it take to infuse spirits?
Let the alcohol infusion sit for at least three hours before using it. After that, you can keep infused liquor in a cool, dark place for as long as three months.