Edit Article

Three Parts:Choosing IngredientsInfusing TequilaStraining a Tequila Infusion

Infused tequila is now commonplace at fancy cocktail bars and restaurants, but you don’t have to be a bartender to create a signature flavor. Fill your liquor cabinet with strawberry blanco and jalapeño anejo tequila. A batch can be ready in a few days.

Ad

Part 1 of 3: Choosing Ingredients

  1. Infuse Tequila Step 1.jpg
    1
    Decide what flavor you would like to infuse in your tequila. Tropical fruit and spicy peppers are good choices for your first batch. Try a single ingredient before moving on to more complex infusions.
    Ad
  2. Infuse Tequila Step 2.jpg
    2
    Purchase one quart of ripe fruit to use in your infusion. Choose the unbruised and best fruit for this purpose. Try the fruit so you can ensure it is sweet and delicious.
    • Purchase one quart (1 liter) of berries for strawberry tequila.
    • Buy three large jalapeños for jalapeño tequila.
    • Use half a ripe pineapple for pineapple tequila.
    • Get ten limes or lemons if you want to infuse citrus rinds.
    • Use three mangoes or stone fruit for mango tequila or peach tequila.
  3. Infuse Tequila Step 3.jpg
    3
    Choose your tequila. Purchase a small to medium bottle of 100 percent agave tequila so that it is smooth and lacks a lot of additives. Blanco, reposado and anejo tequila all work well with infusions.
    • Blanco tequila will work best if you are planning to use it in a cocktail, like a margarita.
    • Try anejo if you want an infused sipping tequila. The aged taste may require a more precise pairing of flavors.

Part 2 of 3: Infusing Tequila

  1. Infuse Tequila Step 4.jpg
    1
    Buy large canning jars or glass storage containers with airtight lids. If you want to do several smaller infusions, you can try eight to 16 oz. (0.25 to 0.5 l) canning jars and split your bottle of tequila between two or three containers. Run the jars through the dishwasher to sterilize them.
  2. Infuse Tequila Step 5.jpg
    2
    Soak your fruit or peppers in lukewarm water for a minute. Then, scrub the surface of the skin.
  3. Infuse Tequila Step 6.jpg
    3
    Chop and divide your fruit. Remove pits, bitter peels and rinds. Cut the fruit up into sections to increase the surface area of the fruit that will be touching your tequila.
    • You can leave peach peels, strawberry skin and other mild fruit skins intact.
  4. Infuse Tequila Step 7.jpg
    4
    Zest your limes or lemons. Use a citrus stripper for best results, because it will remove the peel in strips and leave the rinds. Juice the citrus.[1]
  5. Infuse Tequila Step 8.jpg
    5
    Chop your hot peppers into slices. Wear rubber gloves to reduce the risk of irritating your skin.
  6. Infuse Tequila Step 9.jpg
    6
    Add the fruit or peppers into the clean glass jar. Add the juice if you are doing a citrus infusion.
  7. Infuse Tequila Step 10.jpg
    7
    Pour your tequila into the jar, giving it about two inches (5 cm) of headspace. Seal it and set it in a cool, dark place.

Part 3 of 3: Straining a Tequila Infusion

  1. Infuse Tequila Step 11.jpg
    1
    Let the tequila infusion rest for 12 hours to 10 days. The time you choose should be based on how intense the infusion should be. Jalapeño tequila should be infused for no more than five days the first time you try it.
    • If you are infusing a subtle fruit, like pear or star fruit, you can leave it infusing for up to 21 days.[2]
    • Taste the infusion every three to four days using a clean spoon to test how strong the flavor is.
  2. Infuse Tequila Step 12.jpg
    2
    Shake the infusion bottle once per day. It will break down the fruit and mix the juices.
  3. Infuse Tequila Step 13.jpg
    3
    Cover a clean bowl or wide mouth jar with a fine mesh strainer. Open your infusion jar and pour it through the strainer to remove the fruit. Repeat with a piece of cheese cloth over the strainer if you still find pulp in your tequila.[3]
  4. Infuse Tequila Step 14.jpg
    4
    Wash your infusion jar or your original tequila bottle. Insert a funnel into the top and pour the infused tequila into the bottle.
  5. Infuse Tequila Step 15.jpg
    5
    Label your bottle with the type of infusion and today’s date. Drink within one year.[4]
    Ad

We could really use your help!

Can you tell us about
hairstyling?
Yes
No
hairstyling
how to cut the back of a bob haircut
Can you tell us about
getting out of class?
Yes
No
getting out of class
how to get out of class
Can you tell us about
mousetrap cars?
Yes
No
mousetrap cars
how to build a mousetrap car
Can you tell us about
weight loss?
Yes
No
weight loss
how to lose 7 pounds in 7 days
Thanks for helping! Please tell us everything you know about
...
Tell us everything you know here. Remember, more detail is better.
Tips
Provide Details.
Please be as detailed as possible in your explanation. Don't worry about formatting! We'll take care of it. For example:
Don't say: Eat more fats.
Do say: Add fats with some nutritional value to the foods you already eat. Try olive oil, butter, avocado, and mayonnaise.

Things You'll Need

  • Bottle of tequila (blanco, reposado or anejo)
  • Airtight glass jar
  • Water
  • Dishwasher (optional)
  • Ripe fruit
  • Peppers
  • Knife
  • Cutting board
  • Citrus stripper
  • Rubber gloves (jalapeño infusion)
  • Bowl
  • Fine mesh strainer
  • Cheesecloth (may not be needed)
  • Funnel

Article Info

Featured Article

Categories: Featured Articles | Alcoholic Drinks

In other languages:

Русский: настоять текилу, Italiano: Come Preparare un Infuso di Tequila, Português: Como Infundir Tequila, Deutsch: Eine Tequila Infusion zubereiten, Español: Cómo preparar una infusión de tequila, Français: Comment faire une infusion à base de tequila

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 797 times.

Did this article help you?
Yes No

Become
an Author!

Write an Article