The Joneses wrote:
> "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
>
>
Yahbut! That's a liqueur, not vanilla extract, which is what you asked
about.