I must admit, I have a love-hate relationship with this time of year. What do I love? The amazing fresh produce available, the second chance at fresh strawberries (the fall crop), the beautiful weather, and the marching band season, just to name a few. What don’t I like? The shorter days, the crazy school schedule, and the reminder that cold days are coming again.
I had a chance at fall fresh strawberries when I stopped by a local farm’s trailer in a local parking lot. They were selling the most amazing strawberries by the quart and peck. I wish you could smell them ’cause their sent was truly heavenly. I picked some up and decided to make some goodies so that when winter comes, I can remember the hypnotic days of summer! I’d like to share my first creation with you today.
Strawberry Vodka
If you have never made liqueurs or infused vodka, you’ll be amazed at how incredibly easy it is. It just takes a couple of ingredients, some time (and patience) and you’ll have a heavenly spirit for your enjoyment. Are you ready?
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cleaned strawberries, cut in half
- 2 cups vodka (I used 40 proof)
- Time (1 week)
See, just two ingredients! Clean and sterilize a quart mason jar. (To sterilize, I just heat a pot of water to boiling, add the jar, and then boil for 10 minutes). Add your strawberries and vodka to your sterilized jar and place the lid on. Store your jar in a cool, dark place for 1 week, shaking your jar twice each day. After just one day, you will see that your vodka has turned red and the strawberries are looking rather sickly, just be patient, okay.
After a week has passed, pour your newly infused vodka through a fine mesh strainer to remove the strawberries. DO NOT smoosh the berries because all this will do is make for a cloudy, ugly vodka. Anyway, see how anemic the spent strawberries look?
Here’s another angle so that you can see what a beautiful red your new vodka is and how pale the strawberries look. All of the flavor and color has been infused into your vodka.
You will have between 12 and 16 ounces of yummy strawberry vodka. You can store it in a mason jar or other jar with a tight fitting lid. I store mine in a recycled Grolsch Beer bottle. These bottles have a flip top and look like this.
Doesn’t this look delicious? Oh, and how do you like my shot glass from St. Thomas? This is where my husband and I honeymooned oh so long ago.
Now, you may be wondering how you can enjoy your newly infused strawberry vodka. Don’t worry, I’ll be sharing some ideas with you.
If you’d like to see some other amazing vodkas and liqueurs, check out my homemade amaretto, salted caramel vodka, limoncello, kahlua, and toffee vodka.
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