The Cheap Trick To Level Up Mediocre Vodka

A bottle of vodka is a mainstay in any home's liquor cabinet. It's a reliable base alcohol to mix with sodas and juices and can be used as the principal ingredient in classic cocktails such as the Martini, Moscow Mule, Bloody Mary, and many others. With a smooth profile and practically flavorless profile, vodka is a spirit that remains quite uniform. However, its lack of distinct flavor means that a lower-quality vodka tends to stand out among its peers.

Usually a sign of inferior ingredients as opposed to any distillation method, a lower quality vodka is typically associated with an undesirable, not at all neutral aftertaste which can affect the taste of the spirit even when it's combined into a cocktail. But don't throw out that bottle just yet. Though a middling or even poor vodka on its own might leave you wanting, there's one practice that can elevate that bottle to a level you never thought possible. Better yet, that practice is almost effortless and can be altered to just about any taste. It's time to learn about the wonderful world of infused vodkas.

Making infused vodka is simple, straightforward, and requires very little actual hands-on work. On top of this, since vodka is such a neutral spirit compared to other alcohols such as gin, tequila, or rum, it remains a very adaptable spirit to whatever you might throw in it. As such, you can make vodka infusions that range from sweet to savory to even spicy. Really, you can go as far as your creativity will take you, once you learn the process of infusion.

You'll be pleased to know that you can use pretty well any vodka for infusion. Although higher-proof vodka extracts flavors from the infusion ingredients more quickly it can also more easily pull out bitter flavors so a vodka between 40- and 100-proof is preferred; a standard 80-proof (40% ABV) bottle is completely fine and will yield a delicious infusion. All you have to do is combine your ingredients and vodka in an airtight container (a large mason jar is perfect for this) and let the infusion work its magic over a period of time. A span of several days seems to be the sweet spot for many infusions, with a general rule of thumb marking three to five days as ideal with daily agitation to mix the ingredients (though some infusions such as hot peppers or tea require much less time). Once infused, simply strain out any solids or sediment using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth and marvel at your brand-new infused vodka.

Not only do infusions help to obscure the taste of mediocre vodka, but they also unveil a trove of recipes to try. There's a wealth of infusions out there ranging in flavor. A popular choice is to infuse vodka with fruits or berries, with strawberries and raspberries being solid options. Lemon is a wonderful companion to vodka too (throw in the peels for added complexity — just be sure to remove the pith from them, as it makes the infusion bitter. Infusion time depends solely on how sweet you wish your end product to be. The longer you leave your infusion, the sweeter it will become, so personal taste plays a role.

Herbs are also exemplary choices as they bring distinct, delicate flavors. It's worth experimenting with complementary fruit-herb pairings to produce some wonderful concoctions (including tomato-basil, lemon-thyme, and raspberry-mint). Tea is a great choice too, but remember that tea infuses much faster than other ingredients and becomes quite strong in less than 24 hours, so keep a close eye on it. This rule also applies to spicy peppers, which become quite potent in only a day or two.

With a few infusions, you can transform a bottle of mediocre vodka into delicious infusions that are sure to be the centerpiece of both cocktails and conversations. With your middling liquor officially leveled up, don't be shy to try out your infusions in an assortment of vodka drinks to bring new notes to some old favorites.