Holiday Libations

Here's a great drink for your Christmas festivities. Make sure you don't drink a few of these and try driving. Cheers!

Hibiscus-Vanilla Liqueur

The Washington Post, December 16, 2009

• Course: Beverage
• Features: Holiday (Christmas)

Summary:

This infusion tastes great and looks pretty. It's enjoyable by itself over ice, as well as with sparking wine in a cocktail such as My Tahitian Dream.
Dried hibiscus flowers are available at some Latin markets, at Whole Foods Markets and through online purveyors such as Earthy.com.
Makes 1 liter (about 4 cups)

Ingredients:

• 1 liter vodka, preferably potato-based vodka
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 Tahitian vanilla bean, split and scraped
• 4 tablespoons dried hibiscus flowers

Directions:

Combine the vodka, sugar, vanilla bean and its scrapings and the dried hibiscus flower in a clear-glass 5-cup bottle or container. Let sit in the window, in the sun, for 4 days.
Strain through a fine-mesh strainer, then strain the mixture again into a clean 1-liter container. Discard the solids. Store at room temperature indefinitely.

Recipe Source:

From bartender Todd Thrasher of Restaurant Eve, the Majestic and PX in Alexandria.

Tested by Jason Wilson for The Washington Post.
E-mail the Food Section with recipe questions.

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(Jonathan Ernst for The Washington Post)