Lavender-infused Vodka Recipe

This is quite possibly my most successful infusion. The taste is heavenly! And the intriguing color is reminiscent of absinthe or olive oil.

And now I am going to show you how to make your own lavendar vodka.

Lavender Vodka
-1 bunch fresh organic lavendar (picked over & woody ends trimmed off)
-mid-grade vodka (I used Finlandia, as it was on sale)
-wide-mouth jar (Mason/Kerr jar, washed spaghetti sauce jar, etc.)
-metal mesh strainer
-mixing bowl/measuring cup
-final serving bottle/container of choice



=Simple Instructions=
Pick over the lavendar for any bugs or whatnot. Trim off woody ends & wash it. Cut it into shorter bits to increase surface-area exposure & make sure vodka can cover all parts. Cover by 2" with vodka & let sit 3-4 days. Strain into mixing bowl or measuring cup & pour into final bottle. Enjoy!

=Detailed Instructions=
1. Inspect lavender. Firstly, I got my lavender from the farmers market. Because it's organic, it might have a few bugs on it -- please accept this gracefully as part of nature & as a sign that your lavender is devoid of pesticides. Take one minute to inspect your lavender for anything that's off-colored: little red eggs (cucumber beetle), bigs, or dirt. Trim or break off any offending parts.
2. Trim off woody ends with scissors. If you don't have kitchen shears (I use OXO brand), you are missing out! They make life so much easier.
3. Soak & rinse lavender. Remember that being organic doesn't make a plant immune to dirt! Place lavender in a colander & place that in a larger washing bowl. Cover with water & give it a swish or two to help release dirt. Let sit for 10 minutes, lift colander & rinse thoroughly for 1 minute, turning the lavender to expose all sides to the water.
4. Use your rinsing water for your plants or outdoor lawn! Alternatively, you could pour this into bowls & cups in your sink before you wash them.
5. Cut lavender into roughly 4"-long pieces. You want the lavender to pack nicely & not have straggling pieces when you pour the vodka into the jar. Cutting it also increases the exposure to the vodka and makes the infusion more effective. 
6. Pack lavender into large jar & pour in vodka. The vodka level should be 2" above the lavender level.
7. Store jar in a visible location & shake every day for 3-4 days. This is a quick infusion (3-4 days instead of 3-4 weeks) because lavender can get quite bitter.
8. After 3-4 days, sample your vodka. If you desire a stronger flavor, leave it for 3-4 more days and taste again. 
9. Strain out the solids & pour into labeled serving container. 
-To remove large particles: Pour vodka & lavender through a handheld mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a large measuring cup or mixing bowl with a spout.
-To remove fine particles (optional): If you have a coffee dripper, place that with a coffee filter above a large jar & pour the vodka slowly through it to get out the last bits of grit. 
After straining out solids, pour the finished product into the receptacle of your choice. I love to hunt around online for interesting bottles. IKEA has a great selection of corked and stopper bottles as well.