How to Make Fruit Infused Vodkas

Trying to adapt to healthier habits without giving everything up? This recipe helps you learn how to make a classic vodka soda (or other drink) with your own fun and naturally infused vodka flavors of choice! See below for a variation of flavors tried and which were best.

While drinking is not the best idea for those who are health conscious, have health issues, or have fitness goals, having to give up everything is also not great on your health/mental health. We all know that drinking seems to take the edge off a rough day, social interactions, and more. So, let’s take some of the guilt out of indulging.

Why Fruit Infused Vodka?

These vodka flavors are infused at home to utilize more healthy, natural ingredients. The results are delicious vodka flavors and avoiding typical cocktails loaded with artificial colors, artificial flavors, high amounts of sugar, gluten, etc.

How to Make Infused Vodkas

To begin the process, I took some of my fruits and added them in different combinations into mason jars. Each jar was then filled with Tito’s^® (a gluten-free vodka made from yellow corn).

I left a few centimeters of space at the top, which allowed room to shake each jar’s contents during infusion. Each jar was then covered, shaken a few times per day, and allowed to sit at room temperature to infuse for 5-7 days (or more) before use.

To create cocktails: strain the vodka, add 1½ oz of your favorite flavor to a glass, add ice, fill to the top with carbonated water, and add a garnish or a few pieces of fruit.

What Ingredients to Infuse Vodka With

To find some options, I experimented with popular infused vodka soda/seltzer flavors.

A note on flavors:

I quickly learned that while beautiful and/or a popular flavor, when infusing vodkas at home, the most popular seltzer flavors were not necessarily great as infused vodkas (I believe this is because I tried all of the below without extra sweeteners – and most flavored vodkas from the store are sweetened in some manner).

This time, I tried: mixed berry, cherry strawberry vanilla, rainbow fruit punch, cherry, strawberry, mango peach, apple cinnamon, and vanilla (pictured above from left to right, without vanilla). In the past, I also experimented in the past with coconut lime, pomegranate mango, and star fruit.

Flavor trials:

Here were the results (me and a friend rated each on scale of 1-10) and I took an average as our opinion varied:

10/10 – Pomegranate mango (about 1/2 of a mango and 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds)
8/10 – Cherry strawberry vanilla (1 vanilla beans, about ½ cup of each fruit)
8/10 – Mango peach (about 1/3 of a mango and ½ cup sliced peaches)
5/10 – Cherry (to 1¼ cups, sliced around pit)
5/10 – Strawberry (about ½ cup – would prefer longer infuse time)
5/10 – Mixed berry (about ¼ cup each of: cherries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries)
4/10 – Apple cinnamon (6 cinnamon sticks, about ½ an apple, cored and sliced)
1/10 – Coconut lime (about ½ cup coconut pieces and 5-10 lime slices)
1/10 – Vanilla (about 6 vanilla beans)
1/10 – Rainbow fruit punch (about ¼ cup each)
1/10 – Star fruit (about 8-10 slices)
*Amounts of fruit given were using 12 oz mason jars.

As a result, the flavors so far I’d recommend (though you can use any variations of your favorite fruits, herbs, and spices) are: pomegranate mango, cherry strawberry vanilla, and mango peach.

Infusing Vodka Tips

• I found that infusing vodka is a very fun way to get family and friends involved in my healthier lifestyle, after all, who doesn’t love cocktails with less calories/sugar/artificial sweeteners?
• Make sure the fruit you use is completely ripe. I got excited to infuse my vodka right away, but found that the second run with fruit that I allowed to ripen a bit longer was much tastier.
• Gluten note: while many sources say because liquor made from wheat is distilled many times, so it’s safe for a gluten-free diet, I tend to disagree. I’ve had reactions often and since I’m sensitive, I use Tito’s or Deep Eddys, which I recommend using below. Titos has actually been certified gluten free by the GCFO (Gluten-Free Certification Organization).

Can I Infuse Other Liquors?

Absolutely, using the same technique, feel free to try out tequila, whiskey, gin, rum, and more!

How to Serve Infused Vodka

The best way to serve infused vodka is in vodka sodas! You can also try the, straight up (as shots or over ice), in martinis, in cocktails, cooking with them, or even adding your favorite infused vodka into a cute jar, tying on a ribbon, and giving them as gifts.

Infused Vodka Safety & Storage

Infused vodkas are safe for consumption due to the amount and strength of alcohol used. To ensure everything stays safe during the infusion process, make sure all ingredients are fully covered/immersed in vodka to avoid growing any bacteria of ingredients exposed to air. When the infusion is complete, strain and pour the vodka into clean (sealed) glass bottles. Store it out of direct sunlight.

Healthier Cocktails for You

Still more comfortable with a more traditional, yet healthier cocktail? This low sugar Sparkling Cucumber Lime Gin Cooler is a favorite or try this summer favorite, Sunrise Hawaiian Mimosas which are a healthier version of the trending cocktail (substituting natural hibiscus simple syrup for grenadine).

P.S. Try the recipe below to make a vodka soda with your favorite infused vodka!

I hope you enjoy these healthier cocktails! Here’s to regaining our sparkle together,

✧❈✯✦Jenn✦✯❈✧