Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh raspberries
- 750mL vodka
- Two large clean bottles or jars
- Cheesecloth or other fine strainer
- Funnel
Instructions
- Rinse the raspberries until clean, then allow them to air dry or pat dry gently.
- In a large clean bottle or jars, add the raspberries and vodka.
- Tightly cap, and then give the container a swirl to mix.
- Store the infusion in a cool, dark place for approximately 3 to 4 days, continuing to give the raspberry infusion a swirl every day.
- You can sample it by pouring a small splash into a glass on the final day. If you want more raspberry flavor, allow it to steep for longer.
- If it meets your expectations, carefully remove the raspberries and discard.
- Funnel the infused vodka in the second clean bottle, filtering with the cheesecloth.
- Carefully seal.
You can use the newly infused vodka straight away. Store any unused vodka in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark place for approximately one to two years before the flavors are affected. Discard when the flavor starts to fade or tastes "off."
Variations of Raspberry-Infused Vodka
Play matchmaker with your raspberry vodka infusion by toying with flavor pairings that'll pop in your glass.
- Incorporate nutty flavors into your infusion by adding a half cup of coarsely chopped almonds, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, or shelled pistachios.
- For an herbaceous flair, you can add two to three sprigs of fresh mint.
- Focus on a fruit flavor and add a cup of pitted and sliced apricots, mangoes, peaches, peeled and chopped pineapple, pears, or plums.
- You can add a whole sliced orange or two to three whole sliced lemons or limes if you want a citrus touch.
- Keep the flavor in the berry family by adding half to a full cup of blackberries, blueberries, or hulled strawberries.
- Spice your raspberry vodka up with a tablespoon of whole cloves or star anise or two to three entire cinnamon sticks.
- Sweeten up your infusion by adding 10-12 unwrapped caramel candies, two to three ounces of chopped dark or milk chocolate, a quarter to half cup of honey or maple syrup, or a whole vanilla bean.
Raspberry-Infused Vodka Cocktails
Bring your raspberry vodka to life in a unique cocktail or something more traditional as you find your way.
Raspberry Vodka Negroni
Sometimes called the "Negroski," this riff on the gin cocktail adds some much-needed sweetness.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces raspberry-infused vodka
- 1 ounce Campari
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Raspberry for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, raspberry vodka, Campari, sweet vermouth, and simple syrup.
- Stir rapidly to mix.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with raspberry.
Raspberry Vodka Sour
This cocktail answers the question of what to drink when you can't decide between wanting a Clover Club or a vodka sour.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces raspberry-infused vodka
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 1 egg white
- Ice
- Raspberry for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add raspberry vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white.
- Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
- Add ice to shaker.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with raspberry.
A Queen's Martini
This fizzy martini is fit for a queen, even if the queen is the one who rules over the distribution of raspberries.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce raspberry-infused vodka
- ¾ ounces elderflower liqueur
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Prosecco to top off
- Lemon ribbon and raspberries for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, raspberry vodka, elderflower liqueur, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Top off with prosecco.
- Garnish with lemon ribbon and raspberries.
Berry Fizzy Highball
Jam all the berry flavors into a cocktail, but don't worry, raspberry will still be the star.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce raspberry-infused vodka
- ½ ounce strawberry vodka
- ½ ounce citron vodka
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Tonic water to top off
- Raspberries and lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, raspberry vodka, strawberry vodka, citron vodka, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass.
- Top off with tonic water.
- Garnish with raspberries and lemon wheel.
Mixers for Raspberry Vodka Drinks
Some days, you don't want to compile a list of ingredients to enjoy a drink, so go ahead and mix your raspberry vodka with any of these.
- Lemonade
- Limeade
- Tonic water
- Plain club soda
- Flavored club soda, such as lemon, lime, orange, vanilla, coconut, berry, or mango
- Apple cider
- Orange juice
- Pineapple juice
- Cranberry juice
- Lemon juice
- Lime juice
- Honey
- Maple syrup
- Simple syrup
- Orange liqueur
- Almond liqueur
- Rum
- Tequila
A Drink in the Hand Is Worth Two in the Raspberry-Infused Vodka Bottle
It's well worth fighting the prickly thorns on raspberry bushes for those ripe berries bursting with flavor. Or maybe just stick to the grocery store produce section. However, you get your berries, grab an extra couple of pints to toss into your vodka.
