I decided to use two different alcohols for my first extracts, because the flavours will be perfect for different types of recipes. Some will bask in the glory of a rich rum where others would drown.
If you’ve been diagnosed as coeliac, Vodka can be made from many sources (never with soap or biros). Rum is usually gluten free.
This article contains a list of some of the foods that are used to make vodka:
http://www.livescience.com/41298-what-is-vodka.html
Vanilla Seeds
A lot of people make their extracts using seeds. My eyes rebelled at the thought of having to count a handful of teeny weeny irritating little seeds into a jar, so I chose a lazier way. 😉
Vanilla Extract
Gather Your Goodies
Bottle of Vodka
1 Vanilla pod
1 Cup Vodka
It’s Action Time!
Pour the cup of Vodka into a clamp down jar.
Split a vanilla pod down the centre and remove the seeds. (A few of mine lingered in there. Don’t worry about it. It will add flavour.)
Pop the pod into the jar (I cut mine in two. Pods are long. The jar was small.)
Within a month (or maybe even less) the flavour it good enough to use. Mine fermented in a room that often reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit, so it could take longer. 3 months and you have a mature extract.
Some people say they remove the pods. My jar is months in 5 now and I used so much of the extract in recipes that I simply topped it up and kept it going with the original pods.
Little Notes as I think of them:
The thing about fermenting anything at all is to keep tasting You will know if you need to throw in a couple of seeds or half a pod to up the flavour any. Remove the old if you need to refresh.
I’m an advocate of refreshing jars as well. I’ve just poured all my extracts into clean jars today, after almost 6 months. Mainly because they get used and moved around a lot and I kind of like them non-sticky, with clean lids.
So that’s it!
This is a good punchy vanilla. As a rule, around 8 seeds seem to go into many extracts and some people dilute them with water.
Moi? If I’m going for a little alcohol I’d rather taste it. 😉
Remember, you don’t need a lot to enjoy the flavour and it’s super useful for desserts and smoothies.
Will you make this one, or try it with rum?
