Vanilla Extract - from Shayla

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

I just leave my beans in the big bottles and fill up my little bottle from those.  Therefore some of my vanilla has only been left for 3 months and some has been left for well over 6 months.  I really don't notice any difference in the vanilla that has been left for a lot longer though. 

[andiesenji]

The higher the proof of the alcohol, the more rapidly it will extract the flavor from the vanilla beans.

I usually start with Everclear 190 which is 95% grain alcohol so has none of the flavors of other liquors.  Some cheap vodkas sold here in the states, have an unpleasant flavor - or so I've been told, I haven't tasted them myself but I trust the people who have enlightened me.
Everclear has no flavor at all. 

Extraction with a start of high proof alcohol can take as little as two months but longer is better for a more complex flavor.

I posted earlier in this thread back on page 3 or 4 with my method.  After two or three months I "dilute" the Everclear with brandy or bourbon and have also used an aged, very sweet "extra anejo" tequila in one batch which was very well received.   The Tequila was a gift and was very expensive - more than I knew when I used it - so I won't be purchasing it anytime soon for making vanilla extract.
Fortunately the gifter never learned what I did with his 20-year-old gift.  Woosh!

[meganjane]

Funny, I just checked this thread and then went and smelt the Vanilla Essence that I made when I first read it.
It's divine!! Thick, syrupy and strongly vanilla fragranced. I made it in November 09!!
I used cheap vodka and put in as many pods as would fit.

Mmmmmm.....can't wait to use it now! Vanilla Icecream coming up methinks!

[Lellyj]

My daughter just returned from Bali with a bag of vanilla beans for me so I thought I'd give this extract a shot. Thanks for sharing, Shayla, and for all the other tips and comments. Interestingly, Ina Garten, otherwise known as "The Barefoot Contessa" has a similar method outlined in her first cookbook. She uses a smaller, tall bottle to hold at least 12 beans and leaves it for at least a month. The bottle she uses would be smaller than a 750ml bottle of vodka.  Rather than slitting the beans she fishes them out, snips off the top and the seeds all slide out to be used in baking.  She keeps just topping up the bottle and replacing the beans, and claims to have been using her bottle in the pantry this way for over twenty years!

[dede]

How is everyone going with their vanilla extract? Mine has been brewing since March last year and I have filled up my old vanilla extract bottle 3 times from the big bottle and just top the big bottle up with some more vodka and vanilla beans.

Thought it would also be a good idea to bump this post so some of the new members will be able to benefit from making their own vanilla extract.

[stef]

Wodka an split vanillal pods... It is all you need.. We use those alot... But try to get the bourbon vanilla pods. A bit more expensive, but worth every cent

[snappy]

Thanks for bumping this up.  I have half a bottle of vodka in the liquor cabinet that has been untouched for sometime.  It's just calling out for some vanilla pods!

[judydawn]

I've just put down another lot using Vodka this time.  My first 2 lots were with Brandy. Thanks Uni

[dede]

I was just wondering if I should make a second batch now or keep topping up the batch I already have going every time I take some out?
Or can I keep it going for years?

Maybe the answer is somewhere amongst the previous posts I can't remember.

[hools003]

Dede, you can keep one bottle going for years! Depends on how much you use I suppose. If you use a lot or make some for gifts, two bottles would be good!
I really must get some more vodka and vanilla beans.  My friends went to Bali early last year and brought me back some vanilla beans. Got a bottle of vodka split the beans and put it down the bottom of my pantry. I started using it after about 2 months, then one day I opened my pantry and the damn thing fell and smashed onto the floor!!!! Needless to say, a few choice words came out of my mouth that day. Not happy.

[andiesenji]

You can keep adding both alcohol and fresh beans to your basic batch and draw off what you need.  This will keep the strength of the extract up but insure that you always have some ready.

I experiment with different liquors - although I ordinarily begin with just enough Everclear 190 proof (95% alcohol) to start the process and add the other lesser strength liquor for flavor later in the process.  The higher the percentage of alcohol, the more rapid and more complete the extraction of the flavor components.  

I started a batch a few months ago and then added a very good, aged, and rather sweet (so I was told) tequila to it.  I have tried it in a custard and the flavor was phenomenal.  

You can use inexpensive vodka, brandy or but you get out of it what you put into it.  The better the liquor, the better your final result.

On the Tonka bean thread I posted the link to the place where I order my vanilla beans (extract grade B) which are excellent.  
Vanilla Products  and they do ship to Australia - in fact just about anywhere except to Israel.  
I have a friend in South Africa who orders both beans and vanilla paste from this vendor specifically to produce a line of cosmetics.  
Obviously South Africa is much closer to Madagascar but she can get it cheaper from this vendor, even with shipping charges than buying from a distributor in the country of origin because the import fees are less.  
Odd quirks in international business, I guess.

[dede]

Thanks for that info guys. I will keep doing what I am doing then by topping the bottle up and adding a few more beans each time I take some out to fill my little bottle. It smells so nice every time I open the lid. Eventually I might start a second bottle and try a different spirit to put the vanilla beans into just for a change.

[Cuilidh]

When you put the fresh vanilla beans in, do you take out the older ones?  I'm not much of a drinker so am not up on alcohol percentages, so can anyone tell me what is the best / strongest vodka to use in Australia?

Cheers (oooops, excuse the pun)

[Meagan]

I just leave the old ones in, it is pretty hard to get them out anyway. I am not sure about alcohol content. I just buy smirnoff or whatever is on special lol

[CreamPuff63]

I made this about a month ago, and at the beginning of this topic I think it says it has to be at least 40% alcohol.