How to Make Your Own Flavored Liquors

As easy as mixing together a few common kitchen ingredients with standard liquors, these three festive flavors make delicious holiday cocktails (and party favors.)
Bottles of Infused Liquor

Infused Liquor Party Favors

As easy as mixing together a few common kitchen ingredients with standard liquors, these three festive flavors make delicious holiday cocktails and party favors.

Learn how to make three types of infused liquors: ginger-anise vodka, hot and spicy vodka and vanilla-cinnamon bourbon.

Materials Needed:

  • 7-ounce clear glass, swing-top bottles
  • vodka of your choice
  • bourbon of your choice
  • anise pods
  • fresh ginger

Print and Attach Labels

Print out the Flavor-Infused Liquors Printable Labels onto a sheet of 2-inch by 2-inch clear labels. Apply the title label to the front of the bottle and the drink recipe label onto the back.

Bottle With Vodka Label

Add Labels to Flavored Liquor Bottles

When making homemade flavors liquors, be sure to apply the title label to the front of the bottle and the drink recipe label onto the back.

Gather and Prep Ingredients

For each 7-ounce bottle of infused liquor, you'll need the following:

Ginger Anise Vodka
3 anise pods
1 tablespoon slivered ginger
7 ounces vodka

Hot and Spicy Vodka
3 hot peppers of your choice, sliced vertically
7 ounces vodka

Vanilla Cinnamon Bourbon
1 vanilla bean, sliced vertically
2 cinnamon sticks
7 ounces bourbon

Make all three types, or multiply the recipe for one type times the number of bottles you want to make.

Add Ingredients to Bottles

Add the ingredients to each bottle, then fill the bottle with vodka or bourbon.

Steep The Liquors

Now it's time to let the flavors you've added infuse into the liquors. Wait at least two weeks and up to a month before drinking.

Bottle of Infused Vodka

Homemade Ginger Anise Vodka

For 7-ounce bottles of infused liquor, you'll need 3 anise pods, 1 tablespoon slivered ginger, 7 ounces vodka. Add the ingredients to each bottle, and then fill the bottle with vodka or bourbon. Wait at least two weeks and up to a month before drinking.

Mix Into Holiday Cocktails

Use the liquors as party favors, or as the secret ingredient in the signature holiday cocktails printed on each label:

Fall Harvest (shown below)
1 ounce ginger-anise vodka
5 ounces hot apple cider
squeeze of lemon juice
dash of cinnamon

Stir to combine. Garnish with anise pods.

Sizzling Mary
5 ounces tomato juice
3 ounces spicy vodka
dash Worcestershire sauce
squeeze of lime
salt and pepper

Shake with ice. Garnish with a celery spear or pickled okra.

The Cozy Night
1 ounce vanilla-cinnamon bourbon
1 ounce hazelnut liqueur
3 ounces milk

Shake with ice. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Next Up

How to Make Coconut Hot Chocolate Spoons

Just swirl these coconut chocolate spoons in hot milk to create a delicious homemade hot chocolate.

How to Make a Holiday Breakfast Kit

This is the perfect favor for a late-night holiday party. Send your guests home with a ready-made breakfast for the morning after the soiree. It works equally well as a thoughtful hostess gift.

Pomegranate Mimosa With a Twist

Sweeten your holiday brunch with a refreshing mimosa made from pomegranate juice and a lemon twist.

Festive Holiday Citrus Spritzer Recipe

The best part of this drink is the edible glitter rim. Sweet citrus and tasty mint pair perfectly in this festive party cocktail.

Make Custom-Mixed Sweet Orange Tea Favors

Use bulk spices to create your own custom blend of tea to give as a holiday favor. This recipe is for Sweet Orange Ginger Tea.

White Chocolate Truffles Recipe

These easy-to-make white chocolate truffles will rival those from your favorite sweets shop.

How to Make Eucalyptus-Pine Firestarters

For friends and family who have fireplaces or love camping, these homemade firestarters are a quick and easy holiday favor. They smell yummy, too!

Make Evergreen Tree Holiday Party Favors

Leave guests with a green that they can plant and watch grow. These evergreen seedling party favors will grow into full-sized Christmas trees in the right conditions, like full sun and room to thrive.

Hard Cider Roast With Sage Vegetables

Easy to prep and filled with unique aromatic flavors of cider and sage, this roast will be the star of your holiday dinner.

Tea-Infused Champagne Cocktail Recipe

Introduce a little elegance to your holiday brunch with this floral tea-infused champagne cocktail.

Go Shopping

Get product recommendations from HGTV editors, plus can’t-miss sales and deals.

On TV

Follow Us Everywhere

Join the party! Don't miss HGTV in your favorite social media feeds.