Tincture & Liquer Question

[MissMommyNiceNice]

I'm starting to make more tinctures & flavored liquers to add to my canning problem, er, I mean, hobby. Anyway, for those with experience in such things, do I have to spend the money for good vodka, or is the cheapo stuff okay? I just put a tincture in the fridge to brew with feverfew, and I used smirnoff red label, simply b/c that's what we had in the house. That to me, is middle shelf.

Now, my thinking is for tinctures I could probably get away with the upper lower shelf varieties and for making something like limoncello, I'll want mid to high. Same for homemade vanilla extract - mid to high. Thoughts? Advice?

[Quaniliaz]

I'm not sure - I, too have used what is in my house. I did see a video of Susun Weed making a tincture - and she was pouring out a a plastic bottle.

On an herb walk the other night, the herbalist said she usually uses brandy (no mention of quality) unless she is tincturing something really juicy - then she uses 100 proof (not available in brandy).

When I made yarrow bug spray I used some really cheap stuff!

[JamieCatheryn]

Sounds about right, if it's for taste and enjoyment then use higher quality, for medicine use cheap stuff. Look into glycerin too, really cool stuff I've been learning about and started using that extracts and preserves alcohol free. Seems some medicinal herbs are damaged by the alcohol.

[cristeen]

It depends on what you're using it for, really... will the final product be full-flavored? When I make Kahlua, I use the cheapest vodka I can find - the coffee flavor dominates, so it doesn't make one whit of difference. Same when I make strawberry/fruit vodkas... after the long resting period (upwards of 2 months) with fruit and sugar in it, the vodka has mellowed, and the fruit takes over the flavor.

[pampered_mom]

When making tinctures I tend to use the cheap stuff (and I let mine sit out on the counter when they're "brewing" since my understanding was that they needed a warm location)...but this is our main mode of "health and healing" so we use quite a bit - I don't think we could afford it if I went with a higher quality one. I haven't gotten to making glycerites yet, but it's on my list of things to do (I'd like to have tinctures I can send to work with dh that don't have alcohol in them).

[birthgreeter]

I always use the least expensive, highest alcohol content that I can find. I use glass jars, (plastic can 'seep' chemicals) and always-always place in a dark but-not cold- place (room temp). I have never placed in the frig. I usually use a closet, on a shelf (I make them often so always have some brewing-and have a shelf special for this in a dark closet).

If your extracting them into an oil, use a warm location. I never allow the sun to hit the ones that are 'alcohol based', and for the oil I place in a light location, but not direct sunlight. They have worked great, and I have had no complaints with these methods.

Vodka does not have many additives so it is a good choice, but the taste is not the best. Tinctures can last up to 2 years if placed in a dark bottle when it is done. The alcohol acts as a preservative and works to extract the herb.

What I mix is: 200g dried herb or 600g fresh herb to 1 liter alcohol.