Do You Want To Learn How To Make Infused Liquors?

When it comes to food and drink, I am always looking for a new thing to make or to cook! Thats probably the Chef in me but its also the creative piece of me as well! Recently I had a party with all my cousins and we decided to make a few new thing for the party. Since it was at my house and everyone that would be drinking was going to spend te night - I tried something new; infused liquors. The great thing about this is that you can infuse just about anything. Have it be herbs, fruits, vegetables, etc.

Most of you that cook have probably heard about something called infused oils - this is the same exact process but with liquors such as Vodka, Rum, Brandy, Gin and Sabayon. Most all of these liquors can be found at your local grocery store or at your liquor shop. If you cant find a specific one - just ask the people that work there and they can help you out! Listed below are a few things you might want to try out:

Infusion Drink Ideas:
Strawberry-Kiwi Vodka Martini
Lemon Grass Grapefruit Vodka
Mint Vanilla Bean Moscow Mule
Garlic Habanero Bloody Mary
Blueberry Gin
Chilled Raspberry Sabayon

Infusion Food Ideas:
Liquor-Infused Chocolate Strawberries
Liquor Infused BBQ Sauces

Dessert Ideas:
Flambar Apricots in Grand Marnier
Liquor Infused Truffles
Liquor Infused Ice cream
Kahlua Tiramisu
Apple and Rum Custard Cake
Key West Rum Cake

Here are some extra tips you can use for the ingredient preparation:
Berries: wash and leave whole
Pineapple, Mango, similar fruit: wash and cut into chunks
Strawberries and Citrus fruit: wash and slice thinly
Vanilla Beans: wash and cut lengthwise
Herbs: wash and use whole (stems and all)
Peppers: wash and leave whole or cut in half
Garlic: use whole cloves, removing the outer layers of skin

Infusion Times:
3-4 days: Flavors such as vanilla beans, lemons, oranges, grapefruit, limes, mint, tarragon, basil, oregano, dill, peppers
7 days: Cantaloupes, strawberries, berries, peaches, mangoes, cherries
14 days: Pineapple, ginger, lemon grass

Infused liquors take about 5 days to 2 weeks to "make" so be sure you have plenty time to do something like this. Also, make sure you use a really good quality liquor, try not to use something cheap when it comes to any of these recipes. Herbaceous Plants, fruits, and spices are normally employed for infusions.

The most popular ones are fruit based. But you can also experiment with cucumber, garlic, saffron, basil, hot peppers etc. Make sure you use a air-tight jar when making infused liquors. Try something like a mason jar. Once the jar is clean, insert the ingredients you choose to use inside the jar, and fill the jar with the liquor of your choice. Shake it a few times and cover with a lid, tightly. Store your infusion in a cool dark place, and shake it 3-5 times a day daily.

The ingredients should stay in the liquor for 3-5 days. If the flavors are intense to begin with try 3 days. If the ingredients are less intense try 5 days. Once your infused liquor has reached its peak, use a fine strainer like a chinois or coffee filter to strain the liquor into another container. Store the liquor, the way you would any other liquor of its type