Comment by Ryan O'Rourke on November 27, 2013 at 8:00am

I have quite a few recipes which will benefit from these spirits.  By the way, if you want the BEST vanilla extract you'll ever use, take a bottle of the Boru Vodka (as seen above), take 8-10 of the highest quality vanilla pods you can acquire ... slice the pods lengthwise with a very sharp paring knife, then insert each one into the vodka bottle.  Shake the bottle well, then place it on the shelf, giving it another good shake once a day (or thereabouts). Within two or three weeks, you'll have the best vanilla extract you've ever used -- and it's far more economical than buying the good stuff at the gourmet grocery shops.

Comment by Jim Curley on November 27, 2013 at 8:24am

Ryan, do you leave the beans in the vodka after the two or three weeks or take them out?

Comment by Ryan O'Rourke on November 27, 2013 at 8:34am

Ah, excellent question, Jim.  Yes ... leave the beans in and allow them to steep until you've used the very last of the extract.  Then, do it all over again with a new bottle of Boru Vodka and 8-10 new vanilla pods.  You get the lovely little flecks of the real vanilla paste from inside the pods, and the flavour it imparts is fantastic.  You'll never buy vanilla extract at the shop again.

Comment by Ryan O'Rourke on November 27, 2013 at 8:37am

My wife and I are actually making small bottles of this for several friends as Christmas gifts this year.  Naturally, if you're doing it in the smaller bottles, you'll adjust the quantity of vanilla pods accordingly -- and you'll have to snip the pods in half (or maybe even into thirds) to ensure they fit into the shorter bottles.

I'll get my hands on a full-size bottle of Boru Vodka and do a little photo tutorial and post it here soon.

Comment by Castle Brands Inc on November 27, 2013 at 8:50am

Ryan, never heard of that before but it sounds amazing!! The innovative Irish at our best :) 

Comment by Bit Devine on November 27, 2013 at 11:53am

Wishing I was on Ryan's Christmas exchange...LOL

Love my Celtic honey in Sprite on a warm summer's day...

and in winter... Hot cocoa & Celtic Honey is sure to warm ya inside to out

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