Making Vanilla essence - and I have a question.

[bernardsmith]

I am currently making about a pint of vanilla essence with 10 beans. But the spirit I am using to extract the flavor is about 170 proof. I think I will need /want to dilute this by about half before we use the essence for baking or wine making. (vodka is 80 p or 40% ABV). I assume I should allow the higher alcohol to act as a more powerful solvent and dilute the extract to about 40% ABV just before I am ready to strain the essence for use. Is that a reasonable assumption?

 

[doug293cz]

Sounds like a reasonable plan.

Brew on

 

[InspectorJon]

Commercial vanilla extract has 35% alcohol