Honeysuckle Infused Vodka

What better way to control your favorite invasive vine!

To start you'll need:

(2) mason or canning jars of similar size
(1) 2-part canning lid
Unbleached cheesecloth
100-proof vodka, though 80-proof will do also
Honeysuckle blossoms!

This is the fun part!

Pick the flowers from the Honeysuckle vine. These are the flowers that as a kid you probably pulled the stamen through the trumpet to get at the flower's nectar.

I prefer to pick the light golden flowers - the flowers range from white to gold. The older the flower - the more golden they become.

Remove all of the green parts prior to putting into a mason jar.

Once you've picked a jar of the flowers and tamped them gently into the jar so that no more can fit gently, select a neutral spirit to infuse and pour into the jar. My preference is a 100-proof vodka.

Once you have poured the spirit into the jar, use a 2-piece canning lid to capped the jar.

Let the blossoms rest in the spirit for one to two days on your counter.

The blossoms at the top will oxidize and turn a bit brown.

After the rest period, take the jar and remove the lid. Place a doubled layer of non-bleached cheese cloth over the top of the jar and tighten the ring down to secure.

Invert the jar over another jar and prop against a wall to keep the jar draining into the receiveing jar.

The receiving jar and refrigerate for up to one month. After that time the infusion begins to taste less floral.

Enjoy in a vodka tonic!