Last year I made a peppermint schnapps for the holidays, this year I want to do a Thanksgiving bottle. I tried to think about what would go well with the traditional Thanksgiving feast.
Here's my idea. I want to make a gallon of 185 proof shine and add 13 fresh sliced vanilla beans, an unknown amount of roasted and crushed almonds, and a handful of cloves. Let that macerate for a week. Dissolve four pounds of honey in simmering spring water and use that to dilute the spirit down to 60 proof. If the almond taste doesn't come through well, I'll add almond extract. It's got a nice cherry smell to it, I think it would go well with the vanilla and cloves.
How does that sound? It's meant for a dessert drink. I bet it would go well with coca cola, too.
Will the vanilla macerate more quickly in 185 spirit than it will in 80 proof?
Thanksgiving liqeuer
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