Summer Vodka Infusions With General John Stark Vodka

General John Stark Vodka from Flag Hill Winery & Distillery is a great choice for making vodka fruit infusions.

Vodka may be the perfect mixer since it has little flavor on its own. In addition, the alcohol helps render the flavor out of fruit for infusions. This summer find fresh fruit suspended in glass jars at XO on Elm in Manchester for naturally flavored libations.
It's easy enough to do at home too. For a small quantity, just add fruit to a large-mouth mason jar and fill with a good-quality vodka. With enough fruit, it will only take a few hours to infuse, although most recommendations are to let it sit for a week. The fruit is pretty tasty too. Infuse at room temperature, but chill the jar to serve.

When not using vodka as a mixer, put a premium bottle such as General John Stark (live free or die!) Vodka in the freezer to serve extremely cold as a sipping drink. Serve in a shot glass and you'll get the flavor of the vodka before the burn.

At Flag Hill Winery & Distillery in Lee, 300 apples are in each bottle after the triple distilling process, but this is no apple sauce. Flag Hill distiller Frank Reinhold says, "Individuals may taste an element of diacetyl from the apple fermentation, which lends a slight buttery flavor, but there is no apple flavor."

Flag Hill products are available at the vineyard tasting room in Lee and most New Hampshire liquor stores. Spice Rum is their latest spirit release.

General John Stark Vodka
Flag Hill Winery & Distillery
297 N. River Rd., Lee
(603) 659-2949
$29.95
Gluten-free, 80 proof