June liquor: Infused Vodkas

We had such fun with our infused brandies in February, that we couldn't wait to try infusions again. Since it seemed a good summertime task, we decided to infuse vodkas for our June liquors.

The rules were similar: we had to pick our ingredients and time our infusions so that they'd be ready on June 1, and we had to create two infusions.

Dave, of course, couldn't follow rules properly, and created five.

This is where Dave would also like to mention that rules are for losers. Also, that infusing is really fun, cheap (you can use sub-par alcohol, usually!), and does something to wean us off of our cycle of immediate gratification. Do you remember when you had to wait at least two hours (if not several weeks) to see photos you had taken, only to realize that your thumb was in all of them? Do you remember when you had to wait with your cramped, complaining finger hovering over the PLAY and REC buttons of your cassette recorder to make a cassette dub of your favorite song from the radio, only to have it ruined when the DJ interjected in the middle to remind everyone that he had FREE TICKETS TO VANILLA ICE AT THE CIVIC CENTER FOR THE TENTH CALLER? Do you remember having to actually go to the library and use the reference section to find out that Liechtenstein is the largest producer of false teeth in the world?

We do, dear reader. Even if we have to wait for none of these things now, we do have to wait for infusions, anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks. Vodka infusions are especially quick and, since cheap vodka is really cheap, are a great starting point.

Dave's infusions for the month on Day 1

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Here are Dave's notes on Joe's infusions:

Infusion #1:

It looks clear and it smells like alcohol. My first guess is an alcohol-infused vodka. This is wrong.

There is also something a little citrusy about it, right at the end, but I had no idea what the infusion ingredients were. After tasting it, things went far more awry. "Orange?" I asked, to Joe's deep confusion. "Orange creamsicle?"

Actual ingredients: Apple mint.

Infusion #2: 

This one also looks clear and also smells like alcohol.

"Alcohol infused vodka!" I thought I couldn't be wrong twice in a row. Alas, I was. I also got a bit of lemony citrus goodness.

Then I tasted it, and I got LIME. Geez, there was so much lime. But Joe insisted there was another infusion ingredient.

"Alcohol!?"

Actual ingredients: Rosemary lime.

Both infusions were incredibly obvious once I knew what I was tasting, but were subtle enough to fool my tongue when I was trying to suss out what was in them. I can't wait to try to make a fun, summer cocktail or two out of them!

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Here are Joe's notes on Dave's infusions:

Infusion #1:

Upon smelling it, I crowed, "Cucumber!"

Dave's face gave nothing away, which absolutely confused me. I couldn't believe I was wrong. I smelled again. "Cucumber!"

Again. Nothing. HOW COULD I BE WRONG? THIS SMELLED LIKE DELICIOUS FRESH CUCUMBERS STEEPED IN ALCOHOL. 

"Mint?" I asked.

Nothing.

So this is how Dave plays the game.

So then it was time to taste.

The flavor was instant. Instant. And it wasn't cucumber. It was dill. I'd say it tasted like I was drinking a pickle, but it absolutely does the flavor no favors. This was no dill pickle vodka that hipsters would make for some sort of Dill Pickle Festival. This was a lovely, subtle dill. Sharp but subtle. How do you make dill subtle?

Answer: cucumber.

Ah-ha!

Actual ingredients: Dill cucumber. I am a genius. A genius.

Infusion #2:

First, the scent. "Strawberry!" I crowed.

Dave, playing his favorite game, gave me no facial cues at all, except to arch his eyebrows - something he does a lot anyway, so there's not much give there.

Another smell. "Strawberry!"

And then I tasted. It wasn't strawberry. It was... something. Something that I wasn't sure of. So I just guessed. Rhubarb!

No.

Strawberry rhubarb!

No.

I was stumped. It was fruity, but not sweet. It was fruity, but not citrusy. It was fruity, but indistinguishably fruity. All I knew was that it was a nice combination and I enjoyed it tremendously. It would taste lovely with a club soda and a splash of grenadine.

Actual ingredients: Blackberry Thyme Blueberry

And then the bonus vodkas.

I guessed them all by scent immediately (and the tastes were extraordinary).

Infusion #3: Chamomile!

Infusion #4: Tea!

Infusion #5: Coffee!

Bring on the infusion mixology, June!