Infuse Your Own Holiday Bourbons

When Jack Frost nips at your nose, there’s nothing like a great bourbon infused with festive holiday flavors. Warm your holiday guests this winter season with an easy-to-make infused bourbon. Infusing your own bourbon isn’t hard at all; it just requires a handful of very common ingredients and a little bit of patience. But the result is an incredible tasting winter liquor that will go great in a variety of cocktails. Try one in a winter hot toddy, a Manhattan, an old-fashioned, or just enjoy them on its own.

Need help finding the right bourbon or whisky to use? Just ask the bourbon bosses at your local Spec’s. Cheers!

Winter Spice Bourbon

Ingredients

• 1 medium cinnamon stick
• 3 whole cloves
• 10 whole allspice berries
• zest of 1 orange, peeled into large strips
• 20 grams (about 4 halves) dried plums, or other dried fruit such as raisins or currants
• 2 cups Bourbon (we recommend, G&W Private Stock bourbon)
• large jar or bottle

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a large jar or bottle, close tight.
2. Shake well and let it sit for a few days to a few weeks. At 12 days, the flavor is strong. Filter sooner, depending on your preference of taste.
3. Let the infusion rest for a week or so after filtering, and the flavor will mellow.

Cherry Bourbon

Ingredients

• 6 oz dried cherries
• 3 cups bourbon (we recommend, Whitmeyer’s)

Directions

1. Place all ingredients in a tightly closed jar, and store in cool dry place.
2. The infusion will be ready anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks, depending on taste. Serve and enjoy!

Apple & Cinnamon Infused Bourbon

Ingredients

Makes 750-ml of infused bourbon

• 6 whole apples, such as Honey Crisp or any other sweet apple of your choice
• 6 whole cinnamon sticks
• 1 (750-ml) bottle bourbon

Directions

1. Core and slice the apples.
2. Add these slices and the cinnamon sticks to a clean half-gallon mason jar with a tight-fitting lid (or several smaller mason jars — just split the ingredients evenly between jars).
3. Pour the bottle of bourbon into the mason jar and be sure that the apples and cinnamon are covered. Seal the jar tightly with their lids, and store the bottles somewhere cool and dark to infuse.
4. Let the bourbon infuse for up to two weeks, shaking the jar occasionally to mix the ingredients. Taste the bourbon occasionally, the longer it sits the more flavor will infuse into the bourbon. When taste is to your liking—its ready!
5. Strain the apples and cinnamon sticks from the bourbon and discard.
6. Transfer bourbon into a new bottle (or several smaller gift-sized bottles). Enjoy on its own or mixed into a cocktail.

Coffee Bourbon

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups bourbon
• 1/4 cup Whole Coffee Beans, Smashed (we recommend dark, espresso roast)
• 1/2 vanilla bean, split
• 1 tbsp dark brown sugar

Directions

1. Place coffee beans in two plastic bags. Muddle and smash the beans until they are gently crushed.
2. Place all ingredients in a small canning jar, and set the jar in a dark, cool location.
3. Shake jar lightly every few days. Let infuse for about 3 weeks or until reaches desired taste.
4. Strain and filter through cheesecloth, or jelly bag (if desired) and finally coffee filters.
5. Serve in a cocktail, or by itself and enjoy!