Vodka: favorite past time
Ok, so you all know I love cooking, inventing, and creating all sorts of things, but honestly, my hobby of infusing vodkas is my absolute favorite. I love how making tiny adjustments can make a huge difference in flavor…and yet, no matter what you do, it’s kinda hard to screw something up. I do believe that the only vodka that I’ve made that was undrinkable was the Rose Hip Vodka…it tasted like perfume! Pah-Tooooo-EEE. YUCK!
It stands to reason, therefore, that today is the beginning of one of my favorite weeks of the year: vodka filtering (and sampling) – and lord almighty, I was NOT disappointed.
This is my third year of honing my skill, but I’m still learning. We had a rather small harvest of fruits this year, so I have been crossing my fingers that the few concoctions I have had steeping will turn out! I’ve got the quince filtering overnight, and if it tastes as good as it smells, it’s going to be DIVINE! I haven’t tried the Green Walnut that has been sitting since June, and I’m not sure I want to…it smells a bit like tar or maybe it’s ipecac (at least what I imagine ipecac to smell like!). We’ll see. We’ll see.
Now I just need to find a the right moment to sample them all. It seems like a waste to have a tasting alone! I have a variety of bottles set for maturing (they’ll be the best NEXT year, if I can manage to hold off that long!), but the Pumpkin and Hazelnut from 2008 should have matured to perfection. As far as what I’ve filtered so far, I think the Spiced-Blackberry and the Spiced Blueberry will be spectacular sippers. Now to find someone to come over and help me decide!!!!
oooh, pick me! pick me! (because I have a highly refined palate, of course; NOT because I’m a lush…well, maybe for both reasons)
Rob and I are available to help!! Remember I can only drink on Sat, Sun, and Mondays…
Happy Holidays!
I still say you need to figure out a way of marketing/selling that stuff. You do a great job, and I have yet to find anything nearly as good…