Our spice infused vodka is sweetened with a bit of maple syrup and flavored with warming cinnamon, cloves, juniper berries, star anise and allspice! This homemade infused vodka will completely transform your favorite cocktails!
Vodka infusions are our latest obsession. There’s just something extremely satisfying about using a bottom shelf bottle of vodka to create something extraordinarily refreshing and delicious. And then there’s also the creative element — from fruits and tea leaves to spices and herbs, the flavor combinations are endless! The spice infused vodka we’re sharing today is one of our all time favorites and uses just a handful of ingredients that we always keep in our cupboard.
spice infused vodka
Vodka infusions are incredibly simple. You just need a bottle of vodka, a quart-sized mason jar and a handful of ingredients for flavor. After letting the vodka infuse for a few days to a few weeks, the mixture can be strained and enjoyed!
The amount of steeping time will vary depending on ingredients. Two to three days is the perfect amount of time for this spice infused vodka. Fruit infused vodkas, on the other hand, generally need one or two weeks to develop good flavor. That being said, the readiness of the infusion depends heavily on preference. If ever in doubt, do a taste test every few days and strain the mixture when it’s developed a flavor that suits your taste.
To make this spice infused vodka, we used a mixture of toasted whole spices:
You can adjust the spices to taste or even leave one or two out, but make sure not to add too many more spices as the flavor can be too intense. After the mixture has been infused and strained, the last step is to add a tablespoon or two of sweetener. For this vodka infusion, we used maple syrup, but honey is also always a good option!
the perfect vodka cranberry
And now that you have your spice infused vodka, how should you use it? It’s great served cold with just a splash of club soda, but our favorite use for this delicious infusion is to make a vodka cranberry with a russian twist. Instead of using cranberry juice, we use homemade cranberry mors. Mors is an easy russian berry drink that is sweet, tart and incredibly refreshing — the perfect complement to our spice infused vodka.
To make the spiced vodka cranberry, just mix together two parts mors (recipe here) with one part spice infused vodka. Then just add ice and a bit of soda (we use sprite) to taste. The way your homemade concoctions will transform this incredibly simple drink into a beautifully crafted cocktail is pure magic. Cheers!
Make sure to check out these recipes for more cocktail inspiration!
- Glühwein | Mulled Wine
- Becherovka Bramble
- Gin Fizz Cocktail Recipe with Cranberry and Orange
- Chocolate Martini
Homemade Spice Infused Vodka
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 bottle
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Infusion
- Cuisine: Global
Ingredients
Homemade Spice Infused Vodka
- 750 ml vodka
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 whole cloves
- 1 whole star anise
- 5 juniper berries
- 4 allspice berries
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
Spiced Vodka Cranberry
- 1.5 ounces (50 ml) spice infused vodka
- 3 ounces (100 ml) cranberry mors or cranberry juice
- citrus soda to taste
Instructions
Homemade Spice Infused Vodka
- Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add the cinnamon, cloves, star anise, juniper berries and allspice. Toast for one or two minutes until fragrant. Make sure not to burn!
- Place the spices in a large jar and pour in the vodka. Seal and let steep for three days in a cool place.
- Strain the vodka into a clean bottle and discard the spices. Add the maple syrup and shake well.
- Refrigerate and serve cold.
Spiced Vodka Cranberry
- Mix together the spiced vodka and cranberry mors (or cranberry juice). Add ice and citrus soda (for example sprite) to taste.
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