Raspberry-infused vodka brightens many fruity cocktails. With only two ingredients, it’s simple to make at home and gives vodka a fresh raspberry flavor and a beautiful, natural color.
Making homemade alcohol infusions is enjoyable and rewarding. I prepare an infusion almost every month—blackberries, cherries, strawberries, watermelon or jalapeños—each yields a unique flavor that’s perfect for cocktails.
I started infusing spirits because many commercial flavored vodkas have an artificial taste. When you infuse at home, you control the ingredients and the quality of the final product.
One common question is whether to add sugar during infusion. My advice: don’t. Reserve sweeteners for when you build the cocktail. Ripe, seasonal fruit contributes natural sweetness during infusion, and adding sugar too early can make a finished cocktail overly sweet. If you want a true liqueur or cordial, that’s a different process where sugar is used intentionally.
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Helpful tips
- You don’t need an expensive vodka for infusions; a good mid-range spirit works well. Ketel One is a reliable example.
- Raspberries are delicate—wash them gently. Don’t soak; place berries in a sieve and rinse under cold water.
- After rinsing, blot raspberries dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
- Sterilizing the jar is optional. Wash it thoroughly with warm soapy water and dry completely before use.
- Use a jar with extra space so you can shake the ingredients together easily.
- In hot weather I refrigerate the jar while infusing. Cold infusions take 1–2 days longer than room-temperature infusions.
- Shake the jar twice daily—morning and evening—to help extract flavor.
- Do not plan to eat the raspberries after infusion; they become pale and flavor-depleted.
How to make raspberry infused vodka
Pre-step
Wash the jar with warm, soapy water and dry it thoroughly.
Step one
Gather the ingredients: fresh raspberries and vodka.
Step two
Add the raspberries to the jar.
Step three
Pour 4 cups of vodka into the jar, covering the raspberries completely.
Cap the jar and give it a vigorous shake to combine.
Step four
Place the jar in the refrigerator if it’s warm where you live. Otherwise you can leave it on the counter. Shake the jar twice daily—once in the morning and once in the evening.
After three days in the fridge you’ll notice the color and aroma developing.
Step five
Continue refrigerating and shaking twice daily for a total of 6 days (5 days if kept at room temperature). The infusion will deepen in color and flavor.
Step six
Line a sieve with fine cheesecloth and set it over a large bowl. Pour the infused vodka through the lined sieve to strain out solids. Discard the spent raspberries.
Step seven
Transfer the strained raspberry vodka to a clean jar or decorative bottle for storage.
The color is gorgeous, and the flavor is bright and fresh. Taste a small sample before using it in cocktails to understand its sweetness and intensity.
I hope you enjoy this raspberry-infused vodka. It’s wonderful in cocktails where raspberry flavor is the star.
Other vodka cocktails
- Dirty martini
- Grapefruit cosmopolitan
- Cherry vodka sour
- Classic vodka gimlet
Want to learn more about vodka basics? Consult a reliable guide or source for additional information.
And as always, may all your dishes be delish!
If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments on the original post or via social channels.
Raspberry Infused Vodka
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups raspberries (12-ounce container – washed and blotted dry)
- 4 cups vodka
Instructions
-
Wash the jar with warm, soapy water and dry thoroughly.
-
Add raspberries to the jar.
-
Pour vodka into the jar, covering the raspberries.
-
Cap the jar and give it a vigorous shake.
-
If it’s warm, refrigerate the jar; otherwise you can infuse on the counter.
-
Shake twice daily. Let it infuse for 6 days in the fridge or 5 days at room temperature.
-
Line a sieve with fine cheesecloth and place it over a large bowl.
-
Pour the jar contents through the cheesecloth-lined sieve. Discard the raspberries.
-
Transfer the strained vodka to a clean jar or decorative bottle and enjoy.
Equipment
Notes
- Use a mid-range vodka for good results without overspending.
- Rinse raspberries gently in a sieve under cold running water and blot dry.
- Wash and dry the jar well before use.
- Infuse in the refrigerator during hot weather; plan for an extra day or two.
- Shake twice daily to help extraction. Do not eat the spent raspberries.
Nutrition
| Calories: 158kcal