Homemade Liqueurs (2024)

Most homemade liqueurs start with vodka. This spirit is an ideal base for liqueurs because it's colorless and flavorless, making it the perfect blank canvas.

Start by creating some of the most popular liqueur flavors, like coffee, amaretto, and Irish cream — they all rely on vodka for their kick. Or you may prefer to infuse the subtle essences of herbs, spices, or fruit. You can make all kinds of liqueurs at home. And don't be afraid to experiment with rum, tequila, gin, brandy, and whiskey infusions as well.

Pick a Flavor

There are two ways to add flavor to liquor: 1) Mix flavored extracts right into liquor, and 2) Choose the flavoring ingredients in their raw form and allow them to steep in the alcohol for days or weeks.

Using extracts is the fastest way to make a batch of liqueur, and there are a few cases (e.g., with almond extract), where this is the best way to achieve the flavor you're after. More often than not, though, you will get the best results when you slowly infuse the liquor with fresh ingredients. For example, lemon cordial made with fresh lemon zest will taste much better than when made with lemon extract. Using fresh ingredients also allows you to introduce more variety; you won't be able to find as wide a variety of extracts and essences as you will of fruits, herbs, and spices.

Infusing liquor is not an exact science, but more a matter of taste. Infuse each flavor to suit your own preferences and if it ends up tasting too strong, you can always dilute it with additional liquor.

Flavoring Ideas

Fruit: Orange zest, lemon zest, kumquats, cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, cherries, peaches, tart apples, pineapple, pomegranate seeds, dried apricots, or dried sour cherries. Whole fruit should be sliced or mashed to allow the juices to escape and let the liquor come in contact with as much surface area as possible. Pro tip: Leave the skin on for maximum flavor.

Herbs and spices: Vanilla beans, coriander seeds, peppercorns, hot chiles, lemongrass, cinnamon sticks, cloves, nutmeg, whole coffee beans, dill, thyme, basil, tarragon, rosemary, or even garlic. Be sparing with cloves and nutmeg: too much can produce a numbing effect in your mouth!

Try combining a couple of different flavors in the same batch: How about apple-cinnamon, chile-lemongrass, lemon-tarragon, orange-cranberry, or raspberry-vanilla? Just don't try to pack too many different things into one bottle, or you won't be able to distinguish the flavors.

Pictured: Limoncello

Give it a Rest

Once you've chosen your alcohol and your flavorings, simply combine them.

Put flavorings directly into the liquor, or any glass or earthenware jar/bottle with a tight-fitting lid.
Keep the container in a dark place at room temperature. If you don't have a dark cupboard in your house, put the bottles in a paper grocery bag and stir or rotate them a couple of times a day.
Depending on how potent your flavorings are, let them steep for anywhere from a day to a few weeks. Most fruit needs a full two to four weeks for the flavor to transfer to the alcohol; whereas chiles, garlic, and most fresh spices only need a couple of days.

Smell and taste the infusions to decide when each is ready.

If you've used mashed fruit, your infusion will have bits of sediment on the bottom. To get rid of it, simply line a strainer with a coffee filter and slowly pour the liquor through. Don't try to save the fruit that's been soaking in the booze — it won't have any flavor left in it.

Add a Little Sweetness

When sweetening your liqueurs, don't be tempted to add sugar directly to the alcohol — it will take too long to dissolve and you won't be able to tell right away how sweet it is. Instead, make a simple syrup of two parts sugar to one part water. Combine them in a saucepan and simmer them on the stove until the sugar is completely dissolved. Let the syrup cool to room temperature and then sweeten the infusion to taste. Once a liqueur has been sweetened, most will taste better after they've had a chance to age for a month or so. Aging allows the flavors to mellow and blend.

Pictured: Red Hot Liqueur

Bottle It Up

Scour local import stores, thrift stores, or your cupboards to find interesting glass bottles (if they don't have tops, you can buy corks at craft stores or winemaking supply shops). Have fun creating custom labels and garnish each finished bottle by dropping in a small quantity of the original ingredients (a few berries, a twist of citrus zest, an herb sprig, etc.).

Serving Your Homemade Liqueurs

Most homemade infusions are wonderful when served unadorned, straight out of the freezer. They are also beautiful when mixed into a fresh cup of coffee or drizzled over a scoop of good vanilla ice cream. Homemade liqueurs can be substituted in traditional co*cktails with wonderful results. Make amazing martinis with your infused vodkas, for example, or have fun inventing your own brand new signature drinks!

Explore our complete collection of Homemade Liqueur Recipes.