"George Shirley" > wrote in message
. ..
> zxcvbob wrote:
>> Ozark Baby wrote:
>>> We are planning on making our own homemade vanilla extract. What I
>>> want to do is to be able to give some as gifts. What size bottle would
>>> anyone recommend for gifts? The other question is if I would need to
>>> seal, like with canning, such jars of extract once it is made, after 6
>>> months, or what? Would this homemade extract be ok just sitting on
>>> shelves or should it be refrigerated or what? Any suggestions would be
>>> appreciated.
>>>
>>
>>
>> Are you gonna get 5 ounce glass bottles for it? (I've never seen little
>> brown bottles for sale, but that would be the way to go if you can find
>> them.) I don't know how you intend to make your extract, I'll assume by
>> steeping chopped vanilla beans in bourbon or rye or vodka, but i think
>> you just need to screw the lids down tight.
>>
>> Bob
>>
> Most vanilla extract on the market is done in ethanol, ie 200 proof
> alcohol IIRC. I guess you could do in the liquors you mentioned but seems
> a waste of sipping booze.

Actually, it's not, esp. as it's for a gift. I made a quart bottle of
coffee/vanilla liquor with about 6 vanilla beans and extrastrong espresso. I
used Everclear (the highest proof food-type alcohol I could buy). It was
tasty but would have been better with brandy or 151 rum. Smoother, nicer,
you know? BTW, the vanilla beans eventually dissolved altogether. One can
buy cutsy (pint?) bottles with a vanilla bean or two in thar and one pours
over one's likker of choice. Might be an idea here, and not have to worry
about preservation. I kept my concoction in the cupboard till I drank it all
up, and I didn't get blinded or nothin'. I believe the alcohol successfully
kills most germs and renders the stuff unlikely to grow any more.
If you know your friend's drink of choice, maybe two-gifts-in-one? Bottle
of likker, pretty little bottle with fancy vanilla bean? Cork. There you go.
Edrena