Fruit-Infused Vodka

Got a bumper crop of raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, or blackberries?  Or, for that matter, any kind of fruit?

You can make your own flavored vodka by filling a jar with clean, loosely packed berries and then pouring in as much vodka as the jar will hold. Gently crush them with a wooden spoon to release the juice, then seal and store in a cool dry place for a week.

Strain it and use it in your favorite cocktails, or add simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water, heated until the sugar melts and allowed to cool) to taste to make a liqueur.

Either way, keep it refrigerated and enjoy it within a few months—like anything fresh, seasonal, and handmade, it’s not meant to last forever.