How To: Make flavored liquor

Look to broaden your home bar's horizons a little? Infuse liquor with a custom combination of fruits or spices, and make your home bar top-shelf. Get creative and add them to customized bottles and give away your flavored liquors as gifts!

You Will Need:
• A 750-milliliter bottle of liquor
• A pint of fruit
• 1 tbsp. spices or citrus zest
• A jar or pitcher with lid
• A fine sieve
• Simple syrup (optional)

Step 1: Choose your ingredients
Choose your ingredients. For refreshing flavored vodka, use a pint of almost any fruit. For spicy rum, add spices such as peppercorns or cloves. Citrus zest or vanilla beans can also be used.

Step 2: Prepare the infusion
Cut whole fruit into pieces and remove large seeds or pits. Cut vanilla beans lengthwise. Place the fruit or spices in a pitcher or jar.

Step 3: Add the liquor
Pour the liquor over the fruit or spices. Then stir, cover, and place the pitcher or jar in a dark area at room temperature.

Step 4: Let the mixture steep
Let the mixture steep for 24 to 48 hours, depending on the delicacy of the flavors you're working with and the desired strength for the infusion.

Step 5: Remove solids
Remove the fruit or spices from the liquor by pouring the contents through the fine sieve. Most fruit can be kept for up to three days and used as a garnish, but discard the spices.

Step 6: Enjoy your infusion
Enjoy your infusion. Whether served straight up or mixed into a cocktail, homemade flavored liquor is an exciting addition to your bar. Bottoms up!