Coffee Liqueur

Coffeeeeee.

One of my most prized possessions is my coffee-maker.  Not for sentimental reasons, but more because I'm pretty sure my survival, or at least, the survival of those around me, relies solely on my daily intake of caffeine.

So, after the success of making Irish Cream over the holidays, I wanted to try to make my own coffee liqueur.  I like a little coffee flavor in some of my drinks, and I've even used it in a few desserts.  So, I wanted my next DIY liqueur to be a coffee-flavored liqueur.

There's a little more work to this recipe than the Irish Cream, but it's still super easy.  It just requires a little stove-top work.

I had two equal-sized glass bottles that would hold this batch with a little extra room at the top.  I think you could easily multiply this batch to make more liqueur if you were planning to gift this.  It's a pretty easy homemade gift and a neat way to add a little homemade-ness to your own bar!












Kahlua
(adapted from Beanilla)

2 cups water
3/4 cup instant coffee crystals
4 cups granulated sugar
2 1/4 cups vodka
1 vanilla bean, halved


Combine water, coffee and sugar in a large pot over medium heat.  Stir
until sugar is completely dissolved.

Remove from heat and cool completely.

Add vodka.

Pour into two equal sized containers.

Add 1/2 a vanilla bean to each container and seal tightly.

Let sit for at least one month before serving.