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Miss Cocktail Infusion
Infusion sweetens single blottle blues
Q:I have 1/2 a bottle of Kardoff Vodka at home. I'm looking for the fruitiest and tastiest cocktail that I can make with my vodka. I can't afford any more liquor -- can you help?
-- Elliott,
Sydney, Austrailia
A:I
have the best suggestion for your vodka: infusion!
You will need an airtight jar, your favorite fruit and some simple sugar
syrup.
Infusion seems to be the rage this winter and it is extremely simple.
For example you like cranberries and strawberries. Get some fresh fruit
and cut it in half. Fill a jar about halfway full of fruit then fill remainder
with vodka (give about a 1/4 inch on top for breathing). Let it sit at
room temperature for about a week. After about 4-7 days, your vodka should
have the distinct flavor of the fruit imbedded in its own.
Now we have to sweeten the beverage! There are a variety of simple sugar syrups you can use to sweeten. DO NOT DIRECTLY ADD GRANULATED SUGAR. It takes forever to dissolve in liquor. Simple sugar syrup is made by mixing 1/2 cup water and 1 cup sugar over heat and stiring until sugar is completely dissolved. I sometimes add 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract and cinnamon stick. Or if you add lime or lemon juice you have a nice sweet and sour mix.
I like infusing because it is cheaper than buying two or three additional bottles of liquor to get the same flavor. And by the way, you don't have to use the whole bottle if you don't want to. You can use several smaller jars and make this an experiment in fruit and spice infusion.
On the hotter side (this is also good with tequila), you can add 2-3 jalipeno peppers, 1/4 bell pepper and a tiny bit of a habanero pepper. When serving rub the rim of the glass with garlic then salt (looks cool in shot glass). OR you can make this to use in your bloody mary. Spicy stringbeans work well as a garnish. A friend also recommended adding basil.
If you have absolutely no further
budget for this vodka, go out and get two pints of your favorite sorbet
(not sherbert or ice cream). When you get home, throw half bottle of vodka
in blender with one pint. It's quick, it's cheap, and it's tasty too!
A vuestra salud!
Miss Cocktail
