# Can you make fruit-instilled vodka at home? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** liquor-alcohol\ **Created:** [October 25, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-make-fruit-instilled-vodka-at-home/600748 "2011-10-25T17:05:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2011, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-make-fruit-instilled-vodka-at-home/600748/21 "2011-10-31T01:57:14Z")
I used to make cinnamon vodka. Get some [Chinese cassia cinnamon](http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/p-penzeyscassiachunks.html) (paying for the good stuff is totally worth it in this case–the 4 oz. bag will be enough for several bottles) and put a few tablespoons of it into the vodka along with the resin from the inside of a [vanilla bean](http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/p-penzeysvanillabeans.html) or two. Add just a touch of cloves and nutmeg. Let it sit in the fridge for a week or so, then taste it and see if you like it. If you do, strain it through a colander lined with coffee filters. It’s absolutely delicious, but surprisingly (to me), it didn’t really mix with anything. I liked it best as an ice-cold after-dinner shot, kind of a dessert for those who prefer booze to sweets. ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-make-fruit-instilled-vodka-at-home/600748/22 "2011-11-01T22:57:05Z")
My sister usually has a bottle of lemon-infused everclear which she makes for parties. Don’t know why she uses Everclear, but it’s tasty. There are commercial vodkas infused with jalapeno, which has a wonderfully grassy taste, not too hot, tastes just like you’d expect. Rather good. Another one I tried recently is infused with wasabi – that’s a rough drink, IMO, straight up, but tastes good mixed with OJ. I don’t see why you couldn’t make something like that at home. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-make-fruit-instilled-vodka-at-home/600748/23 "2011-11-02T01:04:18Z")
> [@jackelope](#): > > It’s absolutely delicious, but surprisingly (to me), it didn’t really mix with anything. I liked it best as an ice-cold after-dinner shot, kind of a dessert for those who prefer booze to sweets. Pardon the hijack, but you might like [Becherovka](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Becherovka) if you’ve never tried it. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-make-fruit-instilled-vodka-at-home/600748/24 "2011-11-02T02:45:46Z")
My dad was doing this in the early 60s. He had had [Strega](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strega_%28liqueur%29) in Italy and couldn’t find it back home except at a horrendous markup, so he experimented with infusing lemons, herbs, and sugar in vodka. He says he never quite got the flavors to balance right. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-make-fruit-instilled-vodka-at-home/600748/25 "2011-11-02T19:59:20Z")
Pineapple infused tequila is pretty damn good. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-make-fruit-instilled-vodka-at-home/600748.md?page=1)