Hoppy Vodka?

ILurvTheWhiskey · 12-06-2008, 04:40 AM

This may sound kinda gross to some of you, but has anyone on here ever heard of a hop flavored vodka?

I was thinking commercially available or made by you?

I thoroughly love hops, and sometimes I've had IPAs so strong, you'd think you're drinking grain alcohol with a little malt and a whole lotta hops.

And I also loved vodka. I'd like to take a PRE-MADE bottle and add hop flavoring to it.

I was also thinking about making some. I'm not sure how I'd go about it though. Hop flavored is infused through the boiling process, correct? And dry hopping doesn't affect the flavor too much, does it? Any ideas?

Anybody else think it's a good idea? Or not so much?

Shonuff · 12-06-2008, 04:43 AM

You didn't just ask advice on how to make hooch did you?

ILurvTheWhiskey · 12-06-2008, 04:46 AM

Nope. That would be making vodka.

I'm wanting to know if anybody has ever tried to add hop flavor to a regular bottle of Kettle One that you buy from the liquor store.

If you're not big on the idea, just say you think it wouldn't be very good. Or looking for people who think it would. Just bored on a Friday night.

Also, not 100% how you got the concept of Hooch from this? Is it the wording? Actually, I see how you can see that.

Shonuff · 12-06-2008, 04:51 AM

Sorry. My bad, when you said you were thinking about making some I assumed distilling.

Don't think you can really boil the vodka = it'll just drive off the alcohol.

You know how some bars have containers of fruit and $hit steeping in vodka? Do the same thing with hops. Can't hurt to try.

ILurvTheWhiskey · 12-06-2008, 04:58 AM

Haha, no problem dude. I fixed it as it was worded kinda funny (beer + forums = funny words).

Was thinking about dry hopping also, just worried about it not taking the flavor very well.

I know alcohol helps to extract flavor (like Vanilla) so I'm wondering if a drink with 40% ABV extract some of that flavor?

Hoppy Shots anyone?

**Yuri_Rage** · 12-06-2008, 05:00 AM

Dry hopping vodka will most certainly infuse some flavor. Give it a try.

enderwig · 12-06-2008, 05:04 AM

I would try it for sure!

As a matter of fact, I might do that in the morning. I have some peppercorns soaking in vodka and meyer lemon peel. The lemon peel is for limoncello, the peppercorns, just because. Hops is a great idea, how come I never thought of that?

ILurvTheWhiskey · 12-06-2008, 05:08 AM

Haha. Glad to see I'm not the only one.

Ya'll have convinced me, I'm gonna give it a try also.

This opens the door for more technical questions. Any sugestions for how many ounces or what type for a 750ml bottle of decent, smooth mid-range vodka?

Also, wondering how long I should let it 'steep'.

enderwig · 12-06-2008, 05:15 AM

I think I'm gonna try an ounce of Amarillo for 10 days, I'll letcha know how it turns out....

ILurvTheWhiskey · 12-07-2008, 03:04 AM

Here goes. I set this up this morning.

Recipe:

1.5 ounces of Czech Saaz Whole Leaf Hops

.750ml Kettle One Vodka (I'm using Kettle One, although Boru or Vikingfjord would probably work for a little cheaper)

That's it. I, like enderwig, am going to let it set for 10 days. Although I'll probably 'taste' it once every day or so, hahaa.

Also, enderwig, are you using a hop bag or free floating? I was thinking bag for more clear vodka, but how sexy would it be to have whole hop leaves floating throughout the bottle?