Use your favorite berries—blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and more— and learn how to make berry infused vodka for a variety of cocktail recipes.
We recently arrived home from Hawaii which has put me in a full on fruit-buying frenzy.
We stayed in a few different VRBO rentals during our time on Maui and Kauai, allowing us to grocery shop and make our own meals, and, most importantly—go to all the fruit stands. (My husband should get 10 gold stars.)
If you are anything like me, I am a summer berry over-buyer (totally a word).
When the farmers markets and grocery stores start exploding with fresh strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, I get a little carried away.
This is not necessarily a bad thing, but the berries tend to go bad before we can eat them all.
My solution has been to infuse vodka with the extra berries, which makes for excellent fruit-flavored cocktails.
In this recipe, I used strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries for a triple berry infusion, but you could choose to use a single berry as well. A raspberry-infused vodka drink is next on my list!
You really only need 3 main components: a 1-quart canning jar, vodka, and berries.
Fill your jar with berries, cover with vodka, seal, and wait.
When you've allowed the vodka to infuse for 3-5 days (3 was my preference), strain it and remove all the fruit and seeds.
Store in a sealed jar or bottle and you'll be making drinks far out of berry season.
Stay tuned: Later this week I will be sharing a cocktail recipe to use your berry-infused vodka!
More Vodka Cocktail Recipes
How To Make Berry Infused Vodka
Ingredients
- 2 cups blueberries, raspberries, and quartered strawberries (stems removed) washed and patted dry
- 2 ½ to 3 cups vodka
Instructions
- Add fruit to a clean 1-quart canning jar. Fill jar with vodka until the fruit is completely covered.
- Seal the jar tightly and allow to infuse for 3-5 days on the counter, out of direct sunlight.
- When ready, use a fine mesh strainer to strain the infused vodka, discarding fruit and seeds.
- Using a funnel, fill a sealable and sanitized glass jar or bottle with the infused vodka. The smaller the container, the better, so there is minimal air during storage. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Starley
So fun
Tessa
Thank you, Starley!
Debbie Reinbolt
Another recipe says to keep the fruit in the jar for at least a week. Is that too long?
Tessa
Hi Debbie - I find with berries I prefer a shorter infusing period as they break down faster than other fruits. You can certainly keep it for at least a week. I would recommend taste testing each day until you get an intensity of flavor you prefer.
Tommy
will do it with blueberries only, shake it daily.
Tessa
Sounds great!
Steve Dellorto
I added 3 cups of sugar, half pint raspberries, half pint blackberrier, and a liter of 140 proof rum. In it's second day of infusion. Been shaking as often as possible. Sugar has dissolved, can't wait to try this.
Tessa
Thank you, Steve! That sounds great!
Stephanie
I freeze the alcohol-soaked fruit and use as ice cubes. Works great (especially strawberries and watermelon) and makes the drinks extra pretty :-)
Tessa
That is a great idea!
AM
For small berries - raspberries, blueberries, mulberries - where you don't have to cut the fruit to get it into the jar - do you mash the fruit up at all to get the juice to come out?
Tessa
I just throw them in whole!
Roger Helton
I wonder if the fruit would be tasty in a cocktail as well.
Tessa
Hi Roger! The fruit from the infusion tends to lose all flavor after soaking, but fresh fruit in your infused-vodka cocktail would be delicious.
Karin
The blueberries added to the drink! Don’t discard! I used them for over a week. I can’t speak for any other berries.
Sherry L.
Yes, and I’ve frozen it and then used for”snacks with a kick “!
Karin
Absolutely!
Normand Pelletier
I've had cherry infused moonshine and the fruit was great!!!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
I've never made my own infused vodka Tessa. I can't wait to try! Thanks for sharing.