Vanilla Extract ~ Triple Distilled

What do you think of when you hear the phrase Super Sized?  McDonald’s?  Yeah probably, but wouldn’t you rather be thinking about making a super sized bottle of Vanilla Flavoured Vodka?

It can be used as vanilla extract in the end…but all the way up to the time it is richly infused we suggest using it to cheer yourself up by making some vanilla vodka flavoured drinks for yourself and friends…like the Creamsicle.

RECIPE FOR THE CREAMSICLE:

• 2 parts vanilla liqueur (1 oz./30mL) ~ Galliano
• 2 parts vanilla vodka (1 oz./30mL) ~ what we’re making
• 8 parts fresh orange juice (4 oz./120mL)
• 4 parts half-and-half (2 oz./60mL)
• orange slice to garnish…or Canadian icicle

A few days ago, we made a marmalade that was inspired by the Creamsicle cocktail.  It seems that every winter we get hooked on some kind of cocktail.  A few years ago, it was the Creamsicle and last year it was the Friar Tuck.  But, the Creamsicle Marmalade got us thinking.  MMMMmmm, is vanilla flavoured vodka (like Smirnoff) really all that it CAN be or could we make it better.  While, we are here to find out! 

Simply start with an enormous bottle of vodka (or a small one) and do the following…

RECIPE FOR VANILLA FLAVOURED VODKA ~ VANILLA EXTRACT:

• 3 litre bottle of vodka (we don’t mess around here) or divide this recipe by 4 and use a 26 oz bottle
• 96 vanilla beans (or 24-26 per 26 oz bottle), split/divided  Note: a good rule of thumb is to add as many vanilla beans as there are ounces in the bottle.
• 4 oz rum  (you don’t need good rum but like whiskey rum comes in a wide range of qualities and flavours ~ In Canada 1919 is probably the best rum for the price…but in the US…you guys are so lucky ~ your choices are unlimited.  Matt is a bit of a connoisseur and thoroughly enjoys Venezula’s Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva (his all time favorite) or Ron Zacapa.  These are both excellent drinking rums but will also really add to the finish taste of this vanilla vodka extra.)

1. Order and purchase vanilla beans on ebay…so much cheaper but not so much better.  These vanilla beans are so inexpensive on ebay but please be warned they are nothing like the vanilla beans that you will purchase at a specialty store like The Spice Trader in Toronto (they’re the best) or even as good as the ones at the Bulk Barn.  The vanilla beans from The Spice Trader are really thick, plump, and juicy.  The ebay ones are smaller and seem much more dried out, but they are perfect for this application.  Save the more expensive beans for your curds, jams, and jellies.
   

   Vanilla Bean on the top Organic Bourbon Vanilla Bean from the Spice Trader ~ Below an Ebay Purchase

2. Slice the vanilla beans open lengthwise.
3. Drop the vanilla beans into your bottle of vodka.
4. Patiently wait for 3 to 4 weeks…we’re going to start making Creamsicles next week ~ And, see how the flavour matures.
5. When you’ve had all the Creamsicles you can take, add some rum, and bottle it up.  Be sure to  keep a bottle or two for yourself and gift the others…your friends will love you!

We are going to use the 375mL wine bottles from our pal at our local brew your own; but any clean, sterilized bottle will do.  Alcohol is a preservative and a great tasting beverage!  It will keep forever!