This Infused Vodka recipe is super easy to make at home and is a delicious way to customize your favorite vodka cocktail recipes. Let me show you how to infuse vodka with oranges to create a flavorful homemade citrus vodka. You won't believe how easy this DIY flavored vodka is to make.
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Infused liquor is great for cocktails
Homemade orange vodka is a quick and easy way to give your drink recipe more citrus flavor. And best of all, you can make small(ish) portions so you can try a variety of flavors.
If you've ever wondered how to infuse vodka, it couldn't be easier. Using flavored vodka is a great way to create custom cocktails at home.
Related: How to Infuse Wine with Lemon and Herbs
Using your favorite vodka will ensure you love the flavor no matter what you use to infuse it with.
It's really as easy as adding the 2 ingredients to a jar and letting it steep for several days.
I don't like to buy specialty liquor (I just don't have the space!) but this is an easy way to make your own flavored liquor at home! You can pretty much use this citrus vodka in any of my vodka recipes.
Ingredients
- vodka
- fresh oranges
You can use any type of vodka for this. Use what you have on hand or what you like the flavor of. The bottle doesn't need to be expensive.
I like to buy organic oranges because I know that they won't (shouldn't) contain as many chemicals or pesticides. Also make sure to rinse them well, using a fruit and veggie wash if you have it.
As far as the amounts go, it's very flexible. I used a few cups of vodka and a few oranges to make a small-ish batch of flavored vodka.
How to Make Orange Flavored Vodka
Start with a clean mason jar. I use a larger size to give it space but you don't need to fill up the whole jar if you don't want to.
Step 1
Use a vegetable peeler to remove the skin of the navel orange, being careful not to get too much of the bitter white pith just below the surface.
Add the orange peels to the jar.
Step 2
Add the vodka.
Step 3
Put the lid on the jar and give it a nice little shake.
Step 4
Place the flavored vodka in the pantry for about 3-5 days. Make sure to give it a little shake at least once a day.
Strain the flavored vodka
When the flavors are as bold as you'd like them to be, use a coffee filter and funnel to strain the infused vodka into a new clean jar.
Discard the fruit solids and store the flavored vodka in an airtight container.
Store the finished vodka in the refrigerator.
How to use flavored vodka in cocktails
You can use this orange flavored vodka in any cocktail recipe that uses plain vodka and has complimentary flavors to whatever you used to infuse the liquor.
Since we made an orange vodka you could use it in:
- 2-Ingredient Vodka and Orange Juice Screwdriver
- Blood Orange Moscow Mule
- Blood Orange Martini
- Grapefruit Sunrise
Infused Vodka Ideas
- Use any type of citrus to create a homemade citrus vodka.
- Change up the fruit you use to create other fruity-flavored vodkas.
- Create your own infusions by using a few different types of fruits.
- Don't love vodka? You can infuse tequila and whiskey too.
- I have heard that you can flavor vodka with things like candy also, so get creative!
Tips
Stronger flavors (like herbs) won't take as long to infuse. Fruits generally take 4-7 days.
It is suggested that you taste it each day to see if it has the flavor you are looking for.
But here's the thing with that. You are tasting straight alcohol. So no matter how much it is "infused" it is still going to taste pretty terrible, no? So this is not a good method for me.
I like things on the bolder side anyway so I always err on the side of too strong rather than too weak.
I don't make a ton of one flavor at a time so that I can try out different flavors and see how they work in my favorite drinks.
Frequently Asked Questions
To make homemade infused vodka with oranges, you'll want to let the oranges soak in the vodka for 3-5 days. Start to evaluate the smell after day 2 and check it each day until you get the desired flavor.
After infusing the vodka for 3-5 days, you will strain out the fruit and you can store the flavored vodka in a cool place. It should keep for a few months or longer, but I like to make smaller amounts so that I can use it up faster.
If infusing vodka with fruit, you can leave it on the counter for the few days it takes to infuse it with flavor. After that, you'll remove the fruit solids and store it in the fridge. Read more about how to store infused vodka on Bon Appetit.
I LOVED how this easy homemade orange infused vodka recipe turned out. It's so easy to use in place of plain vodka in cocktails and adds so much flavor.
More bar set up posts
- The Liquor You Should Have on Your Home Bar
- Mixers to Make Delicious Drinks at Home
- How to Make an Orange Spiral
- How to Rim a Cocktail
More vodka cocktails
- Vodka and Soda with San Pellegrino
- Cherry Vodka Sour
- Grapefruit Martini
- Super easy Vodka Recipes to Make at Home
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Orange Infused Vodka Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups vodka
- 2 oranges, peel only
Instructions
- Wash oranges well.
- Using a vegetable peeler, remove the skin of the oranges, making sure to not go too deep and get too much of the bitter white pith.
- Add the orange peels to a clean jar.
- Add the vodka.
- Cover and shake.
- Place in a cool, dark area for 3-5 days, making sure to shake the jar at least once a day.
- After day 2, start smelling the vodka and assessing how much flavor it is infused with.
- When you like the flavor profile, use a funnel and coffee filter to strain out the fruit solids and store the flavored vodka in a new, clean jar with lid.
- Store the flavored liquor in the refrigerator. Use within a few weeks.
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