This homemade barrel aged vanilla extract gives your homemade vanilla extract a pop of bourbon barrel flavor. Easy to make and packed full of vanilla flavor.
If you saw my post on Monday about my tour of Tuthilltown Spirits you will love this post too! While I was on my tour I bought a little kit that includes one empty bourbon bottle and a piece of the charred honeycomb stave. It’s supposed to help bring color and flavor your favorite clear cocktail but instead I used it to make homemade vanilla.
Making homemade vanilla is simple and takes almost no time at all. A few vanilla beans and some vodka and you are set. You let it sit for a awhile and will see it turn a beautiful shade of dark brown. When it gets low you just add some more vodka. You never have to buy vanilla again! Plus you can use it to make vanilla bourbon ice cream….you know you want that in your life!
Homemade {Almost} Barrel Aged Vanilla Extract
This homemade barrel aged vanilla extract gives your homemade vanilla extract a pop of bourbon barrel flavor. Easy to make and packed full of vanilla flavor.
Yield: 1 bottle vanilla extract
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
- 3 vanilla beans – halved and sliced down the center (don’t cut all the way through just enough so the beans flavor can get out)
- 1 barrel aged infusion spiral
- 1 (16 ounce) bottle or jar with lid
- Vodka
Directions:
Cut vanilla beans in half and put into bottle. Add vodka to bottle and fill till full. Let sit in a cool, dark place for at least 1 month before using. Shake the bottle once a week to help combine the vanilla. When bottle gets half full refill with more vodka and and let sit for another month before using.
*In the first picture you will see I need to refill my vanilla. That is about the lowest level you will want your vanilla to get before refilling.
Note: Don't want to buy a barrel aged infusion spiral? You can make traditional vanilla extract by just adding the beans and vodka together in a 16 ounce bottle or jar.