#Workshop - March 21st @ 8PM: DIY Vodka Infusions

Contributor: ToyTimeTim ToyTimeTim
Quote:
Originally posted by Vaccinium
We add sugar to some of ours to make cordials, but they are meant for small quantities after dinner because of their sweetness. Infusing like DS is saying makes them a lot more useful for most people.
Whats a cordial?
03/21/2011
Contributor: DeliciousSurprise DeliciousSurprise
Quote:
Originally posted by Alys
I'm interested in attempting a vodka infused with black peppercorns. Any tips?
I do! First of all, I would crush them, at least a little. They probably don't have to be pepper flake ground, but at least crack them open. And because the peppercorns would be teeny, crushed and superfine, I'd shake it a little more often and leave it a little longer than regular infusions.

I wouldn't go too crazy with using a lot of peppercorn, though, because I feel like it's better to have it steep for a long time than go bad because of too much peppercorn.
03/21/2011
Contributor: DeliciousSurprise DeliciousSurprise
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyTimeTim
Can you eat the fruit after filtering? I remember back in the day, eating Vodka cherries and they were quit good and strong.
You can, the fruit is strooonnng (like the worm in tequila.) But I do know that the infused apple leftovers tasted awful, and the orange was okay, so eat at your own risk.
03/21/2011
Contributor: Vaccinium Vaccinium
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyTimeTim
Whats a cordial?
It's a sweet, fruity, after-dinner drink. It's served in cordial glasses which are like shot glasses on stems.
03/21/2011
Contributor: DeliciousSurprise DeliciousSurprise
Quote:
Originally posted by Alys
What about using those gold-toned metal coffee filters that came with coffee pots? They could be rinsed and used again, and I think we have a couple sitting around since we got the Keurig.
I don't know what they look like, and google isn't helping. Do you have a visual?
03/21/2011
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by DeliciousSurprise
So, Sam, to answer your question, you're going to want to use whole vanilla beans (I'm sure you can get them at a natural foods store, if not your local grocery store). With spices, you don't want to crush them, but you should slice the ... more
Sweet, I'll have to give it a shot
03/21/2011
Contributor: Vaccinium Vaccinium
Quote:
Originally posted by DeliciousSurprise
You can, the fruit is strooonnng (like the worm in tequila.) But I do know that the infused apple leftovers tasted awful, and the orange was okay, so eat at your own risk.
My mom once paid me $20 to eat a tequila worm. She has a photo of me sticking it out on my tongue hanging on her wall.
03/21/2011
Contributor: Alys Alys
Quote:
Originally posted by DeliciousSurprise
I do! First of all, I would crush them, at least a little. They probably don't have to be pepper flake ground, but at least crack them open. And because the peppercorns would be teeny, crushed and superfine, I'd shake it a little more often ... more
I think I'll do a small batch first to see how much is too much...
03/21/2011
Contributor: Tuesday Tuesday
Quote:
Originally posted by DeliciousSurprise
You can, the fruit is strooonnng (like the worm in tequila.) But I do know that the infused apple leftovers tasted awful, and the orange was okay, so eat at your own risk.
You eat the worm?
03/21/2011
Contributor: DeliciousSurprise DeliciousSurprise
Quote:
Originally posted by Tuesday
I have no idea really. I just wondered if it could be used in a dessert maybe. Or if you eat the fruit afterward. Sounds like you don't.
Well, I don't see why not! I don't know a whole lot about cooking or baking, and I don't want to set anyone's stove aflame from having liquor in there, buuuuut... I don't see why not.

I don't often eat the fruit afterwards but I bet it would be really good in a pie...

Oh, and if you put the oranges in ice cream, they are pretty good.
03/21/2011
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by DeliciousSurprise
You can, the fruit is strooonnng (like the worm in tequila.) But I do know that the infused apple leftovers tasted awful, and the orange was okay, so eat at your own risk.
Ooh, sounds like something that would be good to add to a sangria?
03/21/2011
Contributor: Vaccinium Vaccinium
Quote:
Originally posted by Tuesday
You eat the worm?
It's like chunky tequila.
03/21/2011
Contributor: DeliciousSurprise DeliciousSurprise
Quote:
Originally posted by Tuesday
You eat the worm?
I've tried it.

Never. Again.

Once was damn sure enough for me.
03/21/2011
Contributor: Alys Alys
Quote:
Originally posted by DeliciousSurprise
I don't know what they look like, and google isn't helping. Do you have a visual?
03/21/2011
Contributor: Tuesday Tuesday
Quote:
Originally posted by Vaccinium
It's like chunky tequila.
OMG!! LOL
03/21/2011
Contributor: Tuesday Tuesday
Quote:
Originally posted by DeliciousSurprise
I've tried it.

Never. Again.

Once was damn sure enough for me.
You're a braver woman than I.
03/21/2011
Contributor: Vaccinium Vaccinium
Quote:
Originally posted by Tuesday
OMG!! LOL
I'll put anything in my mouth.

*waits for Alys's joke*
03/21/2011
Contributor: DeliciousSurprise DeliciousSurprise
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
Ooh, sounds like something that would be good to add to a sangria?
If you could find a complementary wine, then it would totally be awesome.

That's one of the reasons I started playing around with it, so I could do infusions that combined all the sangria ingredients without the wine.
03/21/2011
Contributor: Alys Alys
Quote:
Originally posted by Vaccinium
I'll put anything in my mouth.

*waits for Alys's joke*
*shakes head*
03/21/2011
Contributor: DeliciousSurprise DeliciousSurprise
Quote:
Originally posted by Alys
Oohhh yeah. I bet that would work splendidly--you may have to rinse it out though so the first time you run an infusion through it, do it slowly so you can see if it's getting clogged.
03/21/2011
Contributor: Vaccinium Vaccinium
Quote:
Originally posted by DeliciousSurprise
If you could find a complementary wine, then it would totally be awesome.

That's one of the reasons I started playing around with it, so I could do infusions that combined all the sangria ingredients without the wine.
That's a really neat idea - the wineless sangria.
03/21/2011
Contributor: DeliciousSurprise DeliciousSurprise
Quote:
Originally posted by Tuesday
You're a braver woman than I.
Braver/Dumber, you say potato...

Vacci, we're worm siblings!
03/21/2011
Contributor: ToyTimeTim ToyTimeTim
Quote:
Originally posted by Tuesday
You eat the worm?
Thats the best part, if you can get it/keep it down. lol
03/21/2011
Contributor: Alys Alys
Quote:
Originally posted by DeliciousSurprise
Oohhh yeah. I bet that would work splendidly--you may have to rinse it out though so the first time you run an infusion through it, do it slowly so you can see if it's getting clogged.
It's great to find a use for them! And they're really fine so it'd probably work well for the pepper vodka.
03/21/2011
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by Alys
Ooh, my mom has something like that. You can put coffee filters in there too if you want to make clean-up a little easier
03/21/2011
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by DeliciousSurprise
If you could find a complementary wine, then it would totally be awesome.

That's one of the reasons I started playing around with it, so I could do infusions that combined all the sangria ingredients without the wine.
I'm not picky, I like fruit wines, and bottled sangria (while not always the greatest) can also be great for adding the fruit to!
03/21/2011
Contributor: DeliciousSurprise DeliciousSurprise
Quote:
Originally posted by Vaccinium
That's a really neat idea - the wineless sangria.
Sangria is A Huge Deal in my family, but I'm just not that into the cheap red wines they use. So, I've been trying out individually infused vodkas (that's why the lemon, mango, peach, apple and orange infusions got hit up first. )

Oh yeah, I forgot, I also did a peach. I try to forget it because I used unripe peaches and the infusion was sad and depressing.
03/21/2011
Contributor: Vaccinium Vaccinium
Quote:
Originally posted by DeliciousSurprise
Braver/Dumber, you say potato...

Vacci, we're worm siblings!
Yeah, but you said you'd never eat them again. I continue to do it (mostly to gross out my kids).
03/21/2011
Contributor: DeliciousSurprise DeliciousSurprise
Quote:
Originally posted by Vaccinium
Yeah, but you said you'd never eat them again. I continue to do it (mostly to gross out my kids).
That's just mean!
03/21/2011
Contributor: Vaccinium Vaccinium
Quote:
Originally posted by DeliciousSurprise
That's just mean!
Pray for my kids.
03/21/2011