Ingredients
Units
- 1/2 pound 2 cups raw hazelnuts with skins, roughly chopped
- 1 cup vodka
- 1/2 cup cognac
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 vanilla bean (split)
Instructions
- In a clean jar with lid, mix hazelnuts, vodka and cognac. Close tightly, place in a cool, dark place (kitchen cabinet for ex), and let steep for 4 weeks.
- After that time, the mixture with be cloudy. Scrape the split vanilla bean and add all of it, seeds and pod, to the hazelnuts and let steep 2 more weeks.
- Make a simple syrup by placing the sugar and water in a saucepan. Bring it to a boil and remove from the heat. Let cool.
- Have ready a colander and piece of cheesecloth. I use the drip coffee filters. Pass the hazelnut mixture through it, letting it drip. Don't rush it. Discard the filters as they fill with the wet hazelnut powder. Your liquid will be clear, and you'll have most of your hazelnuts intact.
- Once the whole of the liquid is sieved, you can either throw away the hazelnuts, or process them and put them back in the original jar. Use them for the hazelnut brownies.
- Add half of the simple syrup to the liqueur. Taste it. It will not be completely mellow but you will get a feeling if you want more sweetness. Add more of the syrup if you feel it needs it.
- Transfer to a bottle, using a funnel, add the remaining scraped vanilla bean and keep with your other liqueurs.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Infusing
- Cuisine: International