How to Make Sous Vide Alcohol Infusions Recipes and Master Guide (2024)

How to Infuse Alcohol with Sous Vide

Making an alcohol infusion follows the main sous vide infusion process, with a few tweaks.

The first step is to seal the alcohol and flavoring agents in a sous vide bag, Mason jar or other sealed container. I prefer mason jars to plastic bags but either work well. It can be hard to vacuum seal if you only have an edge sealer thought.

You want to make sure it seals so the alcohol and aromatics don't escape during the heating process.

Step two is to put the bag or jar into a heated water bath and set your immersion circulator to your desired temperature. I generally infuse my sous vide alcohol at 135°F to 160°F (57.2°C to 71°C) for 1 to 3 hours.

The higher temperatures will impart more of a cooked or bitter flavors and the lower temperatures are usually best for more mild aromatic or floral items, especially if you are used to room temperature or cold infusions. The sous vide method allows you to set the exact temperature you want.

The longer the infusion times, the longer the alcohol infuses for and the stronger the final flavor will be. One to three hours for the is usually ideal for me, with a definite difference between the ends of the spectrum.

Once the infusion is done, take it out of the water bath and let it cool for about 10 minutes. At that point, place it in cold water or a water bath to fully chill the alcohol.

At that point it is ready to be used however you want! I will usually strain it though so I can easily use it in co*cktails or other drinks.

As mentioned, there are a few differences between this and a standard infusion.

Alcohol has a Lower Boiling Point

The first main difference is that sous vide alcohol shouldn't be heated above it's boiling point, which is around 173°F (78°C). Because of this, alcohol is much more volatile than water or vinegar, and if heated above 173°F (78°C) it can very quickly cause bags (or even Mason jars) to burst.

Because of this, I stick to a low temperature and usually max out alcohol at 150°F to 160°F (65°C to 71°C) just to be on the safe side.

Alcohol is More Volatile

Another difference is that because it is more volatile, it is very important to chill the infusion once it is done sous viding. It's always important for infusions to lock in the flavor, but for alcohol infusions it is even more critical.

What Types of Alcohol Infuse Best?

Base spirits like vodka, whiskey, and rum are the most common alcohols to infuse but traditional infusions can be done on any spirit with a high alcohol percentage.

Using a sous vide machine or whipping siphon methods allows even high-sugar liqueurs or quick-to-fade wines to be safely infused. The liquors retain their existing flavors so the bolder the liquor is, the less the flavoring agents will impact the final taste of the infusion.

Because of this, vodka or another neutral spirit such as Everclear are often used for infusions because they allow the full flavor of the flavoring agents to shine through. White rum and silver tequilas are also very popular because of their mild flavors, which lend well to many infusions.

The ratio of alcohol to water will also affect the kind of flavors that are pulled out due to different components and their specific water, oil, or alcohol soluability.

Once you move away from the milder spirits, the flavoring agents need to complement the base spirit being used. Infusing bourbon and dark rum can result in wonderful drinks but you should stick to ingredients that will work in tandem with their strong flavors, not against them. You will also need to use stronger flavoring agents because subtle notes can get lost in the deeply flavored spirits.

In traditional infusions, the proof of the liquor (the amount of alcohol present in it) affects the strength of the infusion. The higher the proof, the more flavor will be drawn out. Because of this, I tend to use overproof or 100+ proof spirits in traditional infusions. This effect is less pronounced in sous vide infusions and almost non-existent when using the whipping siphon.

My favorite application is to use infused alcohol as components in co*cktails. The flavors add great complexity in both alcohol-heavy drinks such as a Manhattan, Old Fashioned, or martini as well as lighter drinks like fizzes or sodas. You can also turn infused alcohols into liqueurs like limoncello through the addition of sugar or simple syrup.

Most alcohol infusions will last indefinitely in a dark cabinet, though the flavors will fade over time. Some sweeter or lower-proof alcohol infusions will start to go bad more quickly though and should be refrigerated. In general, the infusion will last as long as the alcohol would by itself.

If you are trying to figure out what flavors work best in an infusion for a specific item, you can often turn to what flavors are in the classic co*cktails for that spirit. It's an easy way to see what pairs and doesn't pair with a specific liquor.

Sous Vide Infused Vodka

Vodka is a great alcohol to infuse because it is so mild. It readily takes up the flavors of the flavoring agents, which makes it the most versatile infusing medium.

I almost always infuse vodka when I'm using milder flavoring agents, especially mint, basil and other herbs, lighter fruit or vegetables (like pear or apple slices), and citrus. You can take the flavors in many different directions and almost anything works great with it.

I will occasionally use stronger ingredients like chili peppers for a spicy bloody marys. Many home cooks and chefs also use vodka or everclear to make homemade vanilla extract.

• Spiced Ground Cherry Infused Vodka Recipe
• Chile Tomato Infused Vodka Recipe
• Orange Vanilla Infused Vodka Recipe

Sous Vide Infused Gin

There are two types of infused gin you can make with sous vide, flavored gin, or homemade gin.

Flavored Gin

Flavored gin is where you take gin and add different flavoring agents to it. You want to be sure to use flavors that will go well with the gin, especially grapefruit or citrus, sour apples or cucumber, pine or peach.

I usually infuse my gin with a whipping siphon, because heating it with sous vide can occasionally cause the oils from the juniper to separate out, but here is a sous vide infused gin recipe you can follow, as well as 2 whipping siphon ones you can also make with sous vide by following the directions in the first one.

• Apple and Pear Infused Gin Recipe
• Grapefruit Tonic Infused Gin Recipe
• Cucumber and Sour Apple Infused Gin Recipe

Homemade Gin

The other type of gin you can infuse at home is using sous vide to make your own gin. This process involves taking vodka or another high-proof, neutral alcohol and infusing the standard gin flavoring agents into it.

Different gins have different flavor profiles, but in general you will want to infuse it with juniper berries, which is the main addition in all gins. You can also tweak the taste in various directions through the addition of other flavors, some of the more common ones are lemon, orange or grapefruit peel, anise, coriander, nutmeg, or cassia bark.

Sous Vide Infused Tequila

Tequila has a nice in-between flavor, not too mild and not too strong, so it can be used in many infusions. It is also often drunk straight, so the infusion will stand out more.

For sous vide infused tequila, I often stick to classic flavoring such a lime, chile pepper, pineapple, jalapeno...generally citrus, spice, or fruit. You can look at classic tequila co*cktails for more inspiration.

Silver tequila is best for the more mild ingredients because it is so neutral. When using aged tequila or mescal you will want to ensure that the flavors will complement the stronger tequila flavor.

I don't have any sous vide infused tequila recipes on my site right now, but you can use the following recipes as an idea and convert them to sous vide very easily.

• Pineapple Kiwi Infused Tequila Recipe
• Dried Chile Pepper Tequila Infusion Recipe

Sous Vide Infused Bourbon and Whiskey

Whisky and bourbon has a much stronger flavor than the more mild spirits, which means you want to be careful when choosing the flavors to infuse. Sticking with the flavors commonly used in classic co*cktails is a great start, but experimenting can be great fun!

You can also always use moonshine to pick up more nuanced flavors.

I also love to turn infused bourbons into liqueurs. If you like bourbon, I also recommend trying bacon washed bourbon.

Here are a few of my favorite sous vide co*cktail recipes:

• Apple Pie Bourbon Infusion Recipe
• Espresso Infused Bourbon Recipe

What Are the Best Flavoring Agents

There's lots of great ways to flavor your infusion.

Fresh fruits are amazing, as are fresh vegetables.

Many spices can be used, and a great way to approach it is to create mixed spices to pair with the flavor profile of various co*cktails.

You can take the typical tonic water ingredients and make homemade tonic syrup as well. It's great in gin and tonics, which is my wife's favorite co*cktail.

Citrus peel is a favorite of mine. Lemon peel, lime zest, and orange peel are classics, but I've even used blood oranges and grapefruit peels. They alll add amazing citrus flavor to the end result.

You can use many different flavoring agents in your sous vide infusions but here are a few of my favorite combinations.

I love orange peel and vanilla beans together. It's a great base for a "creamsicle" co*cktail.

Black pepper infusions are also a crowd pleaser, especially when combined with some horseradish in a bloody mary.

The additon of wood chips can create barrel-aged co*cktails, such as barrel aged old fashioneds or negronis.

A rich and spicy infusion can use star anise, cacao nibs, and cinamon. It can be great in hot butterred rums or other warm co*cktails.

Using Infusions in co*cktails

There are many ways you can use infusions in sous vide co*cktails. My favorite is to use it as a base component by replacing the base spirit in the co*cktail shaker with an infused version of it. Just make sure the flavors complement the other flavors in the drink.

You can also serve an infused spirit straight up. I really enjoy this with my sous vide infused apple pie bourbon or my sous vide infused apple and pear gin.

Finally, they are great in liqueurs. Just combine the spirit with equal parts simple syrup for a sweet sipping drink. You can alter the amount of sugar to meet your own preferences or add some lemon juice, lime juice, or other citrus juice.

Here's a guide that takes you on a deeper dive into using infused spirits in co*cktails.

No matter how you use them, infusions make wonderful co*cktail ingredients.

Master Easy Sous Vide Infused Alcohol Recipe

This is an easy master sous vide infused alcohol recipe. I often use it for sous vide infused vodka, sous vide co*cktails, and other flavorful drinks. You can change up the liquor you use, as well as the flavoring agents to create a huge variety of drinks.

Recipe Info

• Published: 2021-11-05
• Prep Time: 36 Minutes
• Cooktime: 1 to 3 hours
• Total Time: 1 to 3 hours
• Serves: 4
• Calories: 800 Calories
• Tags: sous vide infused alcohols, sous vide infused alcohols, infused alcohols, infusions, sous vide vodka, sous vide co*cktails

Ingredients Needed

• For the Sous Vide Infused Alcohol
• 1.5 cups alcohol (vodka, everclear, light rum, and white tequila are the most versatile)
• 1/2 cup diced fruit
• 1 tablespoon spices
• To Assemble
• Sides (optional)
• Sauces (optional)
• Garnishes (optional)

Recipe Instructions

Preheat the Water Bath: Preheat a water bath to 150°F (62.0°C)."

Prepare Flavoring Agents: Cube and shop up any fruit or vegetables you are using.

Seal the Infusion: Place the alcohol, fruit, and spices in a quart mason jar and lightly seal until it is 'finger tight'.

Cook the Infusion: Cook the infusion for 1 to 3 hours, until the flavors have fully transferred to the alcohol.

Remove From Jar: Take the mason jar out of the sous vide water bath. Let it cool on the counter, then place into cold water to fully cool.

Strain the Infusion: If desired, pour the infusion through a strainer to remove all of the flavoring agents. This will help clarify the infusion and extend its shelf life.

Serve: Use the infusion as you would any alcohol, in sous vide co*cktails, over ice, or with some club soda for a spritz.

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Do you have experience cooking infused alcohols? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Looking for more infusions? Check out the sous vide infusions time and temperatures for all the sous vide information you need.

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