#pumpkinvodka

I adapted this recipe from the awesome Serious Eats series, found here: http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2012/10/diy-pumpkin-liqueur-recipe.html

3 T. pumpkin puree

1 cup water

1 cup sugar

1 whole clove

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp vanilla extract

4 cinnamon sticks

1 C. vodka of your choice

Bring the water to a boil and stir in the sugar until it is dissolved. Reduce the heat to a simmer and add the clove, nutmeg, ginger, vanilla, and cinnamon. Let this simmer for about 10 minutes, then turn off the heat and let cool for about 20 minutes. This will also make your house smell amazing, like you're baking pie. But then you'll be sad because there's no actual pie.

Once the mixture is cool enough, strain through a fine mesh sieve, pressing down with a wooden spoon to get as much liquid out as possible. Repeat the straining process with a funnel and paper coffee filter. Alternatively, you could just use a cheesecloth over the sieve and skip the double filtering.

When the liquid has completely cooled, combine with the vodka, and let rest for 1-2 days. This should be stored in the refrigerator.

Verdict? Very good. Smooth and lightly sweet. Our first cocktail attempt was a pumpkin pie martini using the infusion, vanilla vodka, and cream, with a brown sugar and cinnamon rim. Yum. You could also skip adding the vodka, and have a tasty syrup for coffee, poured over ice cream, etc.