You may remember a few
posts ago, that I was making homemade vanilla flavoring with some vanilla beans I purchased in St. Lucia. Believe it or not, the 6 weeks for it to ferment have passed and it's ready! It smells wonderful, and I can't wait to taste it, either in a yummy peach cobbler, a splash in my morning coffee, or maybe even a chilled adult beverage. The possibilities are endless!
Unless you're on your way to Madagascar or some Caribbean island, here are a few recommended links to buy vanilla beans online:
here,
here, and
here or purchase at your local Costco.
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| Start with several vanilla beans, the more the better. I only had 8. |
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| Use empty, clean, clear wine bottles, or purchase bottles at a craft or kitchen store. Any type of vodka and bourbon will do. I opted for the less expensive brands, but they need to be 80-100% proof alcohol. |
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| Place vanilla beans in each bottle. Since I only had 8, I did 2 beans for each bottle. But the more beans you have the better it will taste in the end. Measure out 2 cups vodka, and... |
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| ...pour into each bottle. |
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| Next add 2 Tablespoons bourbon to each bottle |
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Cork the bottles and store in a cool, dark place for at least 6 weeks.
Give them periodic shakes during this time. |
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The end product will be dark in color depending on the number of beans you use.
But it will continue to darken over time. |
