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Aquavit

Although the combinations of spices and herbs used in aquavit are endless, some of the most recognized flavors include caraway, anise, fennel, and cardamom. This infused spirit from Scandinavia is best enjoyed straight from the freezer as a shot—accompanied by a toast.

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Ingredients

number of servings
1
  • 2 teaspoon caraway seeds Added to
  • 2 teaspoon Fennel Seeds Added to
  • 2 cardamom pods crushed Added to
  • 2 whole cloves Added to
  • 1 medium lemon rinsed and dried Added to
  • 1 medium orange rinsed and dried Added to
  • 1 bottle vodka such as absolut or svedka Added to
  • 1 teaspoon crystal sugar Added to
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Directions

5 min.
1. Step

Toast the caraway, fennel, cardamom, and cloves in a small frying pan over medium heat, shaking occasionally until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.

2. Step

Using a vegetable peeler, remove a quarter of the peel from both the lemon and orange. Avoid removing the white pith; set the peels aside.

3. Step

Remove about 2 tablespoons of the vodka from the bottle. Either drink it or discard it.

4. Step

Place the toasted spices, lemon and orange peels, and sugar into the bottle. Cover tightly.

5. Step

Let the vodka infuse at room temperature (choose a spot that is neither too warm nor too cold) for 2 weeks, turning and gently shaking the bottle once a day. After 2 weeks, taste the aquavit; let it stand longer as needed.

6. Step

Strain the aquavit through a fine-mesh strainer into a large liquid measuring cup; discard the solids. Transfer the strained aquavit to a clean bottle with a tightfitting lid and store it in the freezer.

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