Infused Liquors

Cranberry and orange infused vodka combines tart berries with fragrant orange peel in a simple, unsweetened infusion. You’ll need 2 cups vodka, 1 cup fresh cranberries, and the zest of 1 orange. Allow about five to seven days in the refrigerator, checking the flavor as it develops. Use it in a vodka tonic or in…

For an acai and blueberry vodka drink, start by steeping fresh blueberries in plain vodka, then add unsweetened acai puree when you’re ready to serve. This gives the blueberries time to infuse while keeping the acai separate until you need it. The finished drink will have some fruit pulp rather than the clarity of a…

Honeydew and mint give plain vodka a delicate melon flavor and a fresh herbal note for spritzers or martinis. Combine the three ingredients in a covered jar, steep in the refrigerator, then strain before serving. Choose ripe, flavorful honeydew: bland melon won’t contribute much to the finished drink. Ingredients 2 cups plain vodka 1 cup…

Orange blossom infused vodka combines the floral aroma of dried orange blossoms with fresh orange zest. It makes a fragrant base for citrusy spring cocktails, especially simple drinks where the blossoms won’t be overwhelmed by other flavors. Allow about 2–3 days for steeping, but start tasting earlier and strain as soon as you like the…

Watermelon and basil infused vodka combines fresh fruit with an herbal note for simple summer cocktails. Add the ingredients to a clean jar, steep in the refrigerator, and strain when you like the balance. Serve it with club soda to let the infusion’s flavor come through, or use lemonade for a sweeter drink. Allow roughly…

Açaí and raspberries give vodka a berry-forward flavor that works in spritzers and fruity martinis. Unsweetened açaí brings an earthy fruit note, while raspberries add tartness. There’s no added sugar in the base recipe, so you can sweeten each cocktail to taste. This version uses pasteurized açaí purée and lightly crushed raspberries for a short,…

Cucumber and fresh mint give plain vodka a light, herbal flavor that works well with soda water, lemonade, or tonic. This small batch uses just 2 cups vodka, half a cucumber, and 5 mint leaves, with no added sugar. Keep the infusion refrigerated and start checking its flavor after the first day. The three-to-five-day window…

Make pomegranate and cinnamon infused whiskey with three ingredients: whiskey, fresh pomegranate seeds, and a cinnamon stick. Steep the mixture in the refrigerator, then strain it for a fruity, spiced addition to whiskey sours or Old Fashioneds. Plan on about 5–7 days, but taste along the way so the cinnamon doesn’t overwhelm the fruit. Ingredients…

Pomegranate and fresh basil give plain vodka a fruity, herbal flavor for simple mixed drinks. This small batch uses just three ingredients and steeps in the refrigerator. Allow about 3–5 days for the infusion, checking the flavor along the way so you can remove the basil when it suits your taste. Ingredients 2 cups plain…

Pomegranate and cardamom give gin a fruity, aromatic twist for simple cocktails. This small batch uses just three ingredients and needs no added sugar. Allow roughly 3–5 days for the infusion, but start tasting earlier so you can remove the cardamom when the spice level suits you. Ingredients and equipment 2 cups gin 1/2 cup…

Pomegranate and fresh mint give white rum a fruity, herbal twist for mojitos, daiquiris or a simple drink with club soda and lime. This small batch uses just three ingredients and steeps in the refrigerator. Allow about 3–5 days, checking the flavor along the way so you can remove the mint when it suits your…

Pomegranate and lemon zest make a simple flavored vodka for vodka sodas and martinis. You only need three ingredients and a clean jar. Plan on about 3–5 days of steeping in the refrigerator, checking the flavor as it develops rather than relying on the calendar alone. Ingredients 2 cups plain vodka 1/2 cup fresh pomegranate…