Vanilla Extract

Back in February, I made up some vanilla extract. I checked the bottles the other day. It smells more of vanilla than the alcohol, so it's going to be ready fairly soon. It's fairly easy to make. All you need is a clean, airtight bottle or jar (preferably glass), vanilla beans, and some sort of distilled liquor, like vodka or bourbon. Tools needed are a liquid measuring cup, labels, and a nice, sharp knife. I bought the beans online; they were on sale! Yay!

I went to the grocery and after much deliberation, I bought a 750 ml bottle of the cheapest vodka they had. I brought it home, slit my vanilla beans (lengthwise) and stuck a few (3 beans to 8 oz. of vodka) in some empty vanilla bottles I had sitting around in my cupboard because I just couldn't bear to throw them away. I filled the bottles with vodka, screwed the caps on really tight and stuck the bottles in the back of the pantry cupboard to steep.

A few days ago, I got another bottle of cheap vodka and made up more vanilla for some gifts. One of the people who got the vanilla mentioned that it would probably make a great cocktail just as it was. I was floored. I had no idea what to say. I'd never thought of using it as a cocktail. I don't even know if the stuff is drinkable.

I mean, I'm sure it's safe, because they sell it in the grocery store. It's not like it's moonshine, or chang'a or anything like that. It didn't have an acetone-y, mimeograph machine fluid, rubbing alcohol smell, either, so that's good (isn't it?). I guess. The label on the first bottle was in Cyrillic and it said "standard" (yes, I can read Russian...well, sound it out, anyway.). The second bottle label is in English and is made in the U.S. (in Vermont).

I buy vodka to use in pie crust and making up extract, so I look for the least expensive stuff in the largest amount possible. Judging by what I'd get if I were to buy chocolate, coffee, tea or cheese in the same way, this is probably NOT the best criteria for buying the best wine, beer, and liquor.

I had to totally psych myself up to do this. Those of you who either know my extended family, grew up like me, or are my extended family understand what I mean. The rest of you are all like "why???". I must have gone to the store on 7 or 8 different trips and chickened out of buying it before I actually did. There are very strong temperance roots on both sides of my family. (I see that blank look on your face. Frustrated sigh! Look it up. There's a Ken Burns documentary on the subject. Granted, it's from the opposite point of view, but that's only to be expected.)

So...I have NO idea if a glass jelly jar of barely steeped vanilla beans in vodka would make a good cocktail or not. Any comments on the merits of what constitutes a "better" vodka and if that makes a difference in the taste of the pie crust (or vanilla extract) would be appreciated. Attacks on my background, since it's not my doing, won't be (who needs that, right?).