How to make flavoured vodka

How to infuse vodka

1. Choose your flavours: Using seasonal ingredients can be an easy way to a winning flavour combination. Matching fruits, herbs and flowers doesn't need to be complicated; we'd recommend infusing any of the following: Herbs and plants: Rosemary, thyme, dill, basil, lavender, mint and elderflower
Fruit: Pomegranate, strawberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, rhubarb, cherries, cranberries, damsons (stoned), orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit and coconut
Vegetables: Celery, garlic, chilli
Spices: Cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, vanilla, cloves

2. Match your flavours: Vodka is the most neutral alcohol base and works well with strong additions like chilli, vegetables and citrus flavours. Use popular vodka cocktails for inspiration – e.g. create a bloody mary-worthy vodka with celery, or a chocolate or coconut vodka for a White Russian.

3. The technique: Use around a quarter of a bottle of your spirit to experiment with new flavours. Add the spirit to a Kilner jar or a pan with a lid. It's essential the spirit is stored in a sealed container and your kit is extremely clean to prevent the spirit from going sour.

Add your infusing ingredient and leave it to leach into the spirit; use this rough guide to get an idea of timings:

• Leave strong chilli, vanilla, cardamom or citrus for less than a day.
• Hardy spices and strongly flavoured vegetables will need 5-7 days.
• Berries and strong fruit can take around 3-4 weeks to fully impart their flavour.
• Milder additions, like apple, melon, lemongrass and florals, will need up to a month.

4. How to store it: Dry, resilient ingredients, like spices or herbs, last longer, while fruit infusions can oxidise and change colour. However, if well sealed and kept in a cool, dark place, flavoured spirits can keep for up to a year.

Flavoured vodka recipes

1. Turkish delight vodka

Perfect for a Christmas tipple, our Turkish delight vodka makes a fun addition to any cocktail cabinet. This delicious spirit is best served with soda water and ice or chilled lemonade, or drizzled neat over vanilla ice cream for an ultra-indulgent treat.

2. Elderflower & gooseberry vodka

Add a shot of something fruity and floral to your summer drinks menu with our easy elderflower & gooseberry vodka recipe. Try serving with tonic water for an elegant thirst-quencher with a subtle sweetness we can't get enough of. We guarantee everyone will be back for a second glass of this classic flavour combination.

3. Strawberry & rhubarb vodka

This drink is pretty in pink. Try our rhubarb & strawberry vodka and showcase stunning seasonal produce. You can leave the flavours to intensify for up to a month before serving up a chilled glass of strawberry goodness. Our beautiful beverage is ideal for a relaxed garden party or a boozy picnic enjoyed outdoors.

4. Raspberry vanilla vodka

If you can't resist the taste of fresh hedgerow heroes, this recipe is for you. A couple of shots of our raspberry & vanilla vodka will take any cocktail from flat to flavourful. You won't believe how simple it is to make and friends will be requesting bottles of their own. Make ours a double!

5. Cherry vodka

Cheers to our cheerful cherry vodka! All it takes is three ingredients and a month of patience to turn a standard spirit into something special. This recipe is easily doubled or halved, so we recommend making a second batch so you're not caught short when it runs out. Bookmark this recipe and thank us later.

6. Chilli vodka

Add a kick to your conventional bloody mary with a dash of chilli vodka. If you can handle a little spice, try this simple vodka recipe served over ice. Use different chillies depending on how much heat you're after. Try using this vodka in our classic bloody mary recipe and turn up the flavour at your next indulgent brunch.

7. Cranberry vodka

Do your tastes lean towards bittersweet? Our quick cranberry vodka is as festive as it gets, and the recipe is easily adaptable if you have a glut of berries to use up. Blueberries and blackcurrants work just as well as cranberries, adding an element of sharpness balanced by sweetness.

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What's your favourite spirit to infuse? Leave a comment below...