So why not just by Kahlua, Strawberry Liquor, and Vanilla Extract from the store? Because there is something great about making it yourself. There is a smile that comes to your face every other day when you have to shake your mason jars knowing that you are creating a delightful drink that will get you through the long cold winter that is approaching. Plus, there is just something about making your own liquor.
As for the vanilla extract, yes it is cheaper to make your own vanilla extract, it just takes a while to do so. This is because it takes at least 3 months for it to be usable in baking, although from the batch I made last year I saw it is more like 5 months. I have two bottles still that from my first batch that have been steeping for a year in bourbon. One will be a present for Joel's mom the other will have to be for a special baking occasion. But this time, I have three different versions of vanilla extract going. One is a vodka mix (w/Smirnoff) one rum (w/Bacardi light rum), and one with a bourbon (w/Makers Mark). The problem with the bourbon mix is that it probably isnt cheaper than the store bought version on a per oz unit because of the price of Makers, but hey, it will be really good extract!
Anyway, here are the recipes. I have some swing top bottles on order and hope to fill them up with my concoctions when they are ready come the beginning of December.
Kahlua - per mason jar
- 1/2 cup of coffee beans
- one vanilla bean
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup rum
- 1 cup vodka
Strawberry Liqueur - Makes approx. 4 mason jars
- 2 1/4 cups vodka
- 2 1/4 cups rum
- 3/4 whole strawberries mashed with 2 cups sugar
Vanilla Extract - per mason jar
- 2 cups of your liquor of choice
- 8-10 vanilla beans split down the middle.
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