DIY: Honey Vodka

Great Recession or whatever the media calls it today means that my husband and I are living on a very tight budget.  We've been talking lately about how hard it has been to be able to provide some of our friends and family gifts as a token of thanks or for a birthday.  So, when we were at a dinner party a few months ago and our friend broke out some homemade honey vodka, we thought, we can do this and this is a perfect gift!  This stuff really does taste like the nectar of the gods.  We made some to bring to an Easter potluck and it was gone in 10 minutes. 

So, we just made our first "gift" batch.  If you want to do this at home, here's how.

 You will need:
*Canning jars (I used pint jars, 12 for $9.49 at Smart & Final)
*5 cups of Vodka (we used cheap vodka for Trader Joe's, $10.99 for 1.75 liters)
*2 cups honey (again, Trader Joe's honey, $9.00 for 48 oz.)
*2 cups dechlorinated water
*nutmeg
*star anise
*cinnamon
*cloves
*zest of one lemon
*vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Sterilize jars that you are using to store the vodka (you can even just use the bottle the vodka came in).   To sterilize, wash in hot, soapy water and then boil in large pot for 5 minutes. 
2. In other pot, boil the honey and water.
3. As soon has honey begins to boil, a foam forms at the top.  Remove the foam.  Set pot to simmer.
4. Add all the spices and the lemon zest to the pot.  I did this by sight.  About 4 cloves, 3 star of anise, a tablespoon of cinnamon and nutmeg.  You can spice to your on particular taste.
5. Cover pot and simmer for 20 minutes.
6. After 20 minutes, strain the honey mixture through a cheesecloth (can usually find cheesecloth as my local $1 store).  Let mixture cool.
7. Add 4 cups vodka.
8. Put in canning jars and store in cool, dark place for at least 1 week.

This batch made 4 pints of honey vodka.  We have enough of all the supplies to make at least another batch, but I'm going to wait a week and see how this batch tastes.  I update this blog if I have any changes.