Old Fashioned Variation

The other night, I wanted an old fashioned, but I didn't have any oranges.  I like the hint of orange that an orange slice adds to an old fashioned.  So, I added a dash of homemade triple sec.  It turned out delicious!

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces Bourbon or Rye Whiskey
• 1 splash Triple Sec
• 2 dashes Augostura Bitters
• 1 Sugar Cube
• 1 splash Water
• Maraschino Cherry

Instructions:

1. Muddle the sugar cube with the water and bitters in the bottom of an old fashioned glass until the sugar dissolves.
2. Fill the glass with ice.
3. Add whiskey and triple sec and stir.
4. Garnish with a cherry.

Cherry Vanilla Vodka Recipe

I am going to be posting a series of flavored vodka recipes over the next few weeks.  The first one is Cherry Vanilla Vodka:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Vodka
• 1 jar drained Marachino Cherries
• 1 can drained Tart Cherries
• 1 Vanilla Bean

Instructions:

1. Cut the vanilla bean in half and split down the middle.
2. Pour all ingredients in a glass jar.
3. Seal and allow to rest for one month.
4. Strain and filter.
5. Bottle and enjoy.

Notes:

Since I wanted less of a vanilla taste, I removed the vanilla bean after one week.  I recommend tasting the infusion periodically, and removing the vanilla bean when you hit the desired strength.

The Revolver Cocktail Recipe

The Revolver is essentially the reverse of spiking your coffee with bourbon.  Instead you are spiking your bourbon with coffee liqueur!  I think that's a way better idea.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Bourbon
• 1/2 ounce Coffee Liqueur (Kahlua, Tia Maria, or homemade)
• 2 dashes Orange Bitters

Instructions:

1. Pour all ingredients into a shaker.
2. Fill shaker with ice and shake well.
3. Strain into a martini glass.

Homemade Chocolate Cream Liqueur

This recipe is just a variation on my Chocolate Liqueur.  Please go to that post for the base recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 batch (approximately 1 liter) Homemade Chocolate Liqueur
• 1 cup Non-dairy Creamer

Instructions:

1. Warm up the chocolate liqueur in a sauce pan over low heat.
2. Stir in the creamer.
3. Bottle and enjoy.

Notes:
If you make a batch of chocolate liqueur, you can turn any portion of it into chocolate cream liqueur.  Use 1/4 cup of non-dairy creamer per 250 ml of chocolate liqueur.

Homemade Chocolate Liqueur

This recipe turned out really well.  It is also the basis for my Chocolate Cream Liqueur.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Everclear
• 1 cup Vodka
• 1 cup Cacao Nibs
• 3 cups Sugar
• 2 cups water

Instructions:
Step 1:

1. Combine the vodka, everclear, and cacoa nibs in a glass jar.
2. Allow to infuse for 1 week.

Step 2:

1. Combine the sugar and water in a sauce pan over medium heat until sugar is dissolved.
2. Allow to cool.
3. Add to the cooled sugar water to the infusion.
4. Allow to rest for 1 week.

Step 3:

1. Strain and filter the infusion.
2. Bottle and enjoy.

Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherry Liqueur

This experiment turned out perfectly!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Everclear
• 1 cup Vodka
• 2/3 cup Cacao Nibs
• 1 jar drained Marachino Cherries
• 1 Vanilla Bean
• 3 cups Sugar
• 2 cups water

Instructions:
Step 1:

1. Cut the vanilla bean in half and split down the middle.
2. Combine the vodka, everclear, vanilla bean, cacoa nibs, and strained cherries in a glass jar.
3. Allow to infuse for 1 week.

Step 2:

1. Combine the sugar and water in a sauce pan over medium heat until sugar is dissolved.
2. Allow to cool.
3. Add to the cooled sugar water to the infusion.
4. Allow to rest for 1 week.

Step 3:

1. Strain and filter the infusion.
2. Bottle and enjoy.

Homemade Triple Sec

I made this the other day, and it turned out great!

Ingredients:

• 12 oz. Vodka
• 12 oz. Everclear
• 3 large Navel Oranges
• 1 drained 15 oz. can of Mandarin Orange Slices
• 5 cups Sugar
• Dash of Orange Blossom Water
• 3 cups Water

Instructions:
Step 1:

1. Heat oven to 180 degrees.
2. Slice the navel oranges into wheels and arrange on a baking sheet.
3. Bake navel oranges 2 hours, flipping after 1 hour (should be gummy but not dry).
4. While oranges are baking, combine drained mandarin orange slices with vodka in a sealed jar.
5. Combine the baked navel oranges with the everclear in a seperate jar.
6. Allow to infuse for 24 hours.

Step 2:

1. Combine the sugar and water in a sauce pan over medium heat until sugar is dissolved.
2. Allow to cool.
3. Strain the infused vodka and everclear into a large glass jar.
4. Add the sugar water and a dash of orange blossom water.
5. Allow to rest for 24 hours.

Step 3:

1. Filter the infusion and bottle.
2. Store in fridge.