Strawberry Vodka and Strawberry Vodka Lemonade

It's so easy to capture a boozy taste of Summer by making your own flavored vodkas. I used the first strawberries of spring on this round and next I'll make cherry and then raspberry vodkas. Here's how:

Fill a quart jar (make 2 jars like I did if you want to end up with a quart of strawberry vodka) with 2 cups of average quality vodka. No need to go top shelf here. Next, put enough clean, hulled strawberries in the jar to reach the top. Screw on the lid, shake a few times and let sit in a cool spot for at least 2 weeks - up to a month. Shake the jar a few times a week. 

When it's time, and believe me it''s hard to wait even two weeks so it will surprise me if you wait a whole month, strain the liquid into a bowl or jar and squeeze out the strawberries, extracting all the flavor and juice that they have soaked up. Discard the berries or compost...although I don't know if the worms would appreciate it!

I poured the mixture back into one of the quart jars and sealed it up for special Father's Day libations...but not before I made a little test batch of the Strawberry Vodka Lemonade pictures up top...Slurp!

Simply mix ice, strawberry vodka and fresh lemonade (you can make your own or by fresh...just stay away from ones with high fructose corn syrup...it makes a difference. I added lemon slices and fresh mint. 

If you want to take these on a picnic, fill up mason jars with the strawberry vodka, lemonade and lemon slices, put the lids on and bring the ice. Hand 'em out, everyone shakes their jar, adds ice and toasts to you! Cheers.