Five Simple Homemade Vodka Infusions

Depending on which state you live in you could be just a few days or a few WEEKS into “quarantine” from COVID-19. At this point you’ve probably plotted to kill your spouse or partner at least a dozen times, consumed your entire wine stockpile that you thought would last for a month, found yourself doing puzzles, organizing closets, and of course binge-watching Tiger King on Netflix. I think I made it three days in before deciding on making these five different vodka infusions as a way to stay busy. And that may have been one of my best decisions since I’m at day 9, starting to go a little crazy, and in need of a strong drink.

I threw these together using fruit and herbs that I had on hand and only had to wait a few days for some of the flavors. I’m experimenting and creating some fun new spring/summer inspired cocktails that I’ll be sharing in the future, so you’ll want to start your infusions soon so you’re ready to make them! Try out these combinations or create a few of your own and let me know what you think!

Five Simple Homemade Vodka Infusions

You’ll need about a bottle and a half of vodka, various fruits, herbs, and 5 glass canning jars.

Lemon, Garlic, & Habanero Vodka

1-2 lemon slices

1-2 garlic cloves

1/2 of a habanero pepper (I used dried habaneros from the garden last year)
3/4 cup vodka

I know this sounds like a weird combination, but I made this infusion specifically with Bloody Mary’s in mind.

Add everything to a mason jar, seal, and store in a cool dark spot. Allow it to infuse for 24 to 48 hours. Taste test a few sips during the infusion period to make sure it’s not too spicy or that the lemon isn’t overpowering the rest of the flavors. Feel free to remove one of the ingredients if you feel like that particular flavor is too strong and allow the rest to infuse longer.

For Bloody Mary’s:

Add 1 part of the infused vodka to 3 parts tomato juice. Add a splash of pickle brine and a teaspoon of Worcestershire, stir, and serve over ice.

Summer Citrus Vodka

2 slices of a lemon, lime, orange, and grapefruit

3/4 cup vodka

Add everything to a mason jar, seal and store in a cool dark spot. Allow it to infuse for 48 hours or longer. After just 2 days it already had a strong citrus flavor which was plenty. I served a few shots over ice and topped off with club soda. Feel free to add a little honey or simple syrup for a bit of sweetness.

Blood Orange & Pineapple Vodka

1/2 of a blood orange, sliced or quartered

7-8 chunks of fresh pineapple

3/4 cup vodka

Add everything to a mason jar, seal and store in a cool dark spot. Allow it to infuse for 48 hours or longer. After just a few days this mix was fruity and sweet. Mine is still infusing (6 days) because I plan on mixing it up with a little rum for a tropical drink. I’m thinking today might be the day!

Spicy Peach Vodka

1 peach, pit removed and cut into wedges

1/4 of a jalapeño pepper

3/4 cup vodka

Add everything to a mason jar, seal and store in a cool dark spot. Allow it to infuse for 3 to 5 days. Taste test about 48 hours in to make sure the mixture isn’t too spicy for you. If so, remove the jalapeño and let the peach continue to infuse for a few days longer. I just used mine yesterday for a cocktail that I can’t wait to share with you!

Grapefruit, Cilantro, & Jalapeño Vodka

1/2 of a grapefruit, sliced

5-6 sprigs of fresh cilantro

1/4 of a jalapeño pepper

3/4 cup vodka

Add everything to a mason jar, seal and store in a cool dark spot. Allow it to infuse for 3 to 5 days. Just like the Spicy Peach Vodka, you’ll want to taste test a few days in so the jalapeño doesn’t overwhelm the rest of the flavors. Pour a few shots over ice and top it off with sparkling grapefruit water. I think this would also be an amazing tequila infusion for margaritas.