Ingredients
- 8 oz bottle or jar with a tight seal
- 5–6 vanilla beans per 8oz of alcohol
- 80 proof vodka, bourbon, brandy, or rum
Instructions
- Slit the beans down the middle
- Cut beans to a length that will fit and place in the jar
- Pour alcohol in to jar, completely submerging the beans
- Close and shake the jar a few times
- Store at room temperature and out of direct sunlight
- Shake about once per week or two
- It’s ready in as little as eight weeks, 6 months is optimal, 12+ months is even better
- As it’s used down a little, keep the beans submerged by topping off the jar with more alcohol
Notes
- Unused aged vanilla extract (with the beans fully submerged) will last several years
- If it still smells good, it’s still good to use!
- Aged extract without the beans will last indefinitely
- Once you begin using the vanilla and adding more alcohol after each use, the beans will eventually need to be replaced
- After about one year of frequent use and refilling, the vanilla flavor will become less intense—replace old beans with fresh beans, shake, and continue to use/refill
Ingredients
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