Here's How You Make Your Own Lemon Vodka With Just 3 Ingredients
If you find yourself botching sourdough starters and running out of interesting banana bread recipes, it might be time to switch from amateur baking to amateur bartending. We've got you covered.
If you're wading into the murky waters of mixology, vodka is a wonderfully versatile spirit to work with. Its lack of flavor makes it the subject of scathing criticism among veteran bartenders, who often cast vodka off as boring and safe, according to The Daily Mail.
But don't be fooled: Vodka's lack of flavor allows for a world filled with cocktail possibilities. You can mix it with soda, fresh fruit juices; you can craft a gingery Moscow mule or a tangy cosmopolitan. Teach yourself to infuse vodka with fresh fruit, and you've suddenly got a fun, nuanced complexity of booze and flavor.
Getting started with your lemon-infused vodka
Taste of Home suggests a simple, fool-proof recipe that requires just three ingredients (vodka, lemons, sugar) and a one-quart jar. Be mindful that you're adding in your own flavor: In other words, there's no need to break the bank and buy top-shelf vodka, Bon Appétit warns.
Scrub three lemons to make sure no wax residue ends up floating around your vodka. Cut the lemons into 12 quarters, toss them into your container, and add a pint of vodka along with a tablespoon or two of white, superfine sugar. (We know groceries are tricky right now, so keep in mind granulated sugar works, too.) If you want to get even more experimental, try tinkering with mint leaves, crushed blueberries, or vanilla bean, as Bon Appétit suggests.
After combining your ingredients, tightly seal your container, and prepare for the hardest part: patience.
How long does lemon-infused vodka take?
Infusion takes a few days — at least. Bon Appétit recommends allowing your ingredients to sit for three to seven days, while Taste of Home version sat for a full 10 days. It's not cheating to open the jar and taste the spirit every so often. Consider how much lemon flavor you'd prefer in your vodka: If you want a tart, puckery, acidic spirit to work with, opt for a longer waiting period.
Finally, when the fateful day has come, strain and bottle your vodka.
Lemon vodka is tasty enough to sip over ice and soda, but The Kitchn suggests using the infused spirit for a martini, experimenting with bitters, or even jello shots.