The Vodka-Infusing Experiment, Part One

We here at OSF have just acquired six wonderful four-ounce mason jars for experimentation with infusing vodka. Pray tell the commercialization of these spirits have already clouded the perception of many but, food purists as we are, we've decided to try our hand in infusing some not-so-common flavors; i.e. flavors that haven't been bottled for mass consumption.

And the flavor assignments are as follows:

Salami. - This was borne from seeing a lack of savory vodka flavors on the shelf of our friendly neighborhood bar, and we were hankering for a dirty martini with a little extra 'oomph.' We've tested on salami before on a smaller scale, and were very impressed with the results, but in a full-blown martini we're hoping this lives up to its expectations.

Black Pepper. - Black pepper would make for a very spicy vodka, not just because of its inherent pungency but also because of its oil content. These oils enhance that bouquet and flavor, but we're experimenting to see if it's more astringent than that chili pepper vodka we see all over the place. And don't get us started on the Bloody Mary.

Basil-Garlic. - We're interested to see this just for its versatility in cooking. How many Italian recipes do you come across with basil and garlic? And to produce a cream sauce that will be white but taste of basil would surely be amazing.

Melon. - Sure, there's Midori in its alien green, but a true melon vodka, just hinting at a light, subtly sweet, punchy alcoholic beverage? We're on a quest. Just think of a prosciutto garnish on that martini.

Star Anise. - The star of Chinese five-spice, this darling should be a shoo-in for the winner, if the smell is indicative of its flavor. None of us here have had star anise in huge quantities, but it sure seems appealing enough for us to make a yummy drink out of it.

Honey-Oat. - We're a little skeptical at this, but if it pulls off, it'll be an amazing thing to have in our repertoire. Breakfast cereals step aside: let's drink breakfast instead!

Thanks to the thread boards at Yelp NY! We'll keep you all posted as to what's going on with our vodka, and the video of part one should be up shortly on our YouTube anchor.