Habanero

07.18.09 Habanero Version 1


We have been looking forward to doing something different so we decided to try to infuse Habanero peppers to get something that has a real kick! We used 3 habaneros. Emilio tried one seed to test the heat. It was hot, but we decided to keep the seeds in the infusion. So the habaneros were cut into quarters, stems removed, seeds kept (7/8 oz habanero), and 750 ml of Fris vodka was added.

Lissa's research (because she is a scientist after all) indicates that this should only take a few days.

E: I can't wait for this one! We should infuse it for a week

L: I'm scared! A week seems like a long time.

E: Fine, we will taste test it each day so it doesn't get too hot. Darn it...

07.19.09 Tasting

Tasted ~12 hours later. Has a pepper flavor and definitely heat!

Tasted ~24 hours later.

Definitely hotter, mild pepper flavor. Burn of the pepper hides the vodka burn. Pepper burn lingers for a few minutes. Still not done though.

07.20.09 Declared Done after 3 days.

Filtered with wire strainer.

E: Wonderful burn that is not alcohol, or rather it covers the burn that is normally present with the vodka. From one tasting the burn lingers 5-7 minutes. A little bit goes a long way. A little bit of pepper taste. Not unbearably hot or painful and will not be painful later.

08.03.09 Habanero v2

Emilio decided he wanted to push the boundaries of the habanero infusion. He sliced up 3 habanero peppers and put them in.
08.10.09 Taste check

After a week, Emilio tasted it and found out that the infusion was not any hotter than v1, but the burn lasted longer.
08.14.09 Habanero v2 - Done after 11 days!

Letting it sit for a little while longer made a larger difference. The taste is and burn is more intense and the burn lasts for a much longer amount of time.

Ben says, "mmmmmm...."

Emilio said, "Feel the burn baby, feel the burn." Emilio has dubbed this variety "oh HELL - Yeah".


04.11.10  Habanero v3


6 large habaneros.  Sliced in half and seeded (1 1/3 cup, very inefficiently packed).  Added to 750 ml of "cleaning out the cupboard" vodka.  (~190 ml Svedka, ~240 ml Vikingfjord, ~320 ml Fris) at 3:06pm.

Filtered 4/15/10 E had to stop the infusion because now the vodka is crazy hot! Should have pulled it the day before but it seems that 24 hours made one hell of a difference.


Recipe

750ml Vodka

3 quartered Habanero peppers stems removed and seeds intact.

Infusion time ~7 days, to taste.