Ingredients:

  • 6 whole Grade B vanilla beans
  • 1 cup 80-proof vodka

Instructions:

  1. Place the vanilla beans on a clean cutting board. Use a sharp paring knife to slice each bean lengthwise, leaving about an inch at the end intact.
  2. Gently spread the sliced beans to expose the tiny black seeds (the caviar) for maximum flavor extraction.
  3. Fold or cut the beans so they fit completely inside your 8-ounce glass jar. Ensure they can be fully submerged.
  4. Using a funnel, pour the vodka over the beans until the bottle is nearly full, ensuring beans are completely covered.
  5. Tighten the lid securely and shake the bottle vigorously for 30 seconds.
  6. Store the bottle in a cool, dark place like a pantry for at least 8 weeks. Shake the bottle once a week to redistribute the seeds.
  7. After 8 weeks, the liquid should be a deep amber color with an intensely sweet, woody aroma, ready for use.