Make Your Own Orange Blossom Infused Vodka

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 balance.

Ingredients

• 2 cups plain vodka
• 1 tablespoon dried orange blossoms labeled for culinary use
• Zest of 1 orange, using only the colored outer layer

You’ll also need a clean glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, a fine-mesh strainer and a clean bottle for storage.

Choose Blossoms Meant for Food

Buy dried orange blossoms from a supplier that clearly identifies them as edible and intended for food or drinks. Don’t use flowers from a bouquet, potpourri or a craft supply package. Colorado State University Extension’s edible-flower guidance cautions against eating florist and nursery flowers because they may have been treated with chemicals unsuitable for food.

This recipe uses dried blossoms, not orange blossom water, orange extract or essential oil. Those products aren’t direct tablespoon-for-tablespoon substitutes.

How to Make the Infusion

1. Prepare the orange. Wash it under running water and dry it before zesting. Finely grate just the colored outer peel, leaving the bitter white pith behind. Save the orange itself for juice or a snack.
2. Combine the ingredients. Put the dried blossoms and orange zest in the jar. Add the vodka, close the lid tightly and gently swirl so the ingredients are moistened.
3. Steep in the refrigerator. Plan on roughly 2–3 days, gently swirling the closed jar each day. Begin checking the flavor after the first day, then check daily. Use a clean spoon to remove a small sample; adding a little water to the sample can help you judge the floral and citrus flavors.
4. Strain when the flavor suits you. Don’t wait for the full steeping time if the floral flavor is already strong enough. Pour through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean container. For a clearer infusion, pass it through a paper coffee filter to remove fine zest and flower particles.
5. Bottle and refrigerate. Transfer the strained vodka to a clean bottle, close tightly and label it with the contents and preparation date. Keep refrigerated.

Serving Ideas and Flavor Adjustments

Try the infusion in a vodka soda with an orange twist, or use it in place of plain vodka in a citrus cocktail. A splash of lemonade is another option when you want a sweeter drink.

The infusion contains no added sugar, so it won’t replace a sweet orange liqueur without changing the cocktail’s balance. Add sweetness to individual drinks as needed rather than sweetening the whole bottle.

If the floral flavor is stronger than you’d like, blend a small portion with plain vodka in your glass before adding mixers. Adjust that serving until you find a balance you enjoy. For your next batch, use the same ingredients and strain earlier.