| Getting Started | | | | Tighten the lid securely over the jar and place in the |
| Infusing is pretty simple process and has been used | | | | refrigerator or at room temperature, away from |
| by distillers for centuries. It is the simple practice of | | | | direct sunlight. |
| steeping or macerating a flavor into a neutral spirit | | | | Infusion times will vary. Taste every few days to |
| and letting it sit for a period of time. The time it | | | | obtain the flavors that you are aiming. for. If you |
| takes for the spirit to absorb the that flavors is all | | | | want to deepen the flavor and start foraying into |
| determined on the product and the environmental | | | | liqueurs, add a little sugar and stir it in to dissolve. |
| factors.A good rule to go by when infusing is to start | | | | How to infuse vodka with cherry |
| with your oil based flavors such as citrus, chillies and | | | | Purchase your vodka. This recipe calls for a 750-ml |
| similar fruits and vegetables. Using more succulent | | | | bottle of vodka, so if you use a larger bottle, be |
| fruits such as strawberries could result in a mushy | | | | sure to add more cherries during the infusion process. |
| mess without careful supervision. | | | | |
| | | | Choose 4 pints of cherries. The best cherry-infused |
| Article provide by Phase One Ingredients: | | | | vodka is made with real, in-season cherries. In the |
| While vodka is the popular base to infusions, you can | | | | United States, cherries are typically picked from May |
| add flavor to any spirit. Stronger oil based ingredients | | | | until August, with the peak season in June. If you are |
| can infuse in a shorter amount of time, sometinemes | | | | unable to buy your cherries from a farm, you can |
| under a week, whereas softer more fibrous | | | | buy them in the grocery store at the same time for |
| ingredients can take more than a week. | | | | similarly delicious results. |
| Infusion jare: | | | | Find a reusealable glass container in which to infuse |
| Tall or round glasss jars with tightly fitting lids, | | | | your vodka. A wide-mouthed container, such as a jar |
| preferable complete with pouring spouts are the only | | | | for canning fruit, will work well. Whichever container |
| initial outlay required for your new in house vodka | | | | you choose, make sure you have enough room to |
| infusion center. | | | | stir the mixture thoroughly. |
| Choosing your flavor The choice of flavors is all | | | | Prepare your mixture. First, remove the stems and |
| based on your imagination, why not try orange | | | | pits from the cherries. Pour the bottle of vodka and |
| infused tequila or maybe a fig and cinnamon infused | | | | cherries into the container and mix. Allow the mixture |
| bourbon. Mellow flavors include cantaloupe, peach, | | | | to sit in a warm, dry place for several days. Stir the |
| strawberry, cherry, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, | | | | mixture three times a day. |
| pineapple, mango, and vanilla beans. Lemon, lime or | | | | Test your vodka after 2 days in the jar to get a feel |
| grapefruit flavors offer a sharper bite to the palate. | | | | for how much longer it needs to completely infuse. |
| Time to Infuse Everything should be washed | | | | The best way to test the vodka is straight, without |
| thoroughly including fruit vegetables to ensure they | | | | any mixers. |
| are free of pesticides and any impurities that might | | | | Pour the mixture through a coffee strainer to |
| contaminate the final product. Berries such as | | | | remove the cherries and serve your vodka. If you |
| blueberries, raspberries and blackberries should be left | | | | want to serve your cherry vodka in a mixed drink, |
| whole while more fibrous fruitsl such as mango and | | | | visit Drinks Mixer for a few recipe ideas (see |
| pineapple should be chopped into small chunks. Citrus | | | | Resources below). If the cherries you used to infuse |
| fruits and strawberries should be sliced thin. More | | | | the vodka with still taste good, use them as drink |
| obscure flavors such as vanilla beans and chillies | | | | garnishes. |
| should be sliced lengthways and herbs left on their | | | | Tips & Warnings |
| stem. | | | | Make sure to choose a quality vodka like Skyy or |
| When slicing up your ingredients keep in mind the | | | | Belvedere so you create the smoothest infused |
| vessel you will be placing them in . Is it a glass jar | | | | vodka possible. If you only have a cheaper vodka |
| that will be on display on the back bar or will it be | | | | available, run it through a Brita water filter first to |
| hidden away. Presentation is everything when infusing | | | | remove some of the impurities. |
| your latest creation in public. | | | | Some of the best cherries to make infused vodka |
| The glass jar should be filled with the infusion | | | | with are Rainiers, Bings and yellow-red Royal Anns. |
| ingredients and the remaining with your base spirit. | | | | |