We will be looking at several spirits below. We grade each spirit based on its vanilla taste after extraction and its ability to be used across multiple applications. Ciroc uses grapes grown high in the Gaillac region of France and distills its vodka five times before bottling. It uses a cold fermentation process to ensure the best flavors and offers a refreshingly different and excellently crisp taste. Yes, pure distilled vodka (and other distilled spirits like brandy, tequila, rum, whiskey, and gin) is theoretically considered gluten-free, even if made with glutenous grains such as wheat, barley, or rye. ABV: Alcohol By Volume — the percentage of ethanol in a beverage. The average vodka alcohol percentage is 40%. Here's a recent review of vodka's for extract making that includes the vodka's listed here and a few more:

Similar to tequilas with their silvers, reposados and anejos, a brandy and cognac are put into three distinct categories as well. 1)Very Special (VS) for a minimum age of 2 years, 2) Very Special Old Pale (VSOP) for a minimum age of 4 years and, 3) Extra Old (XO) for a minimum age of six years. Its expertise comes with thanks to its master distiller, who combines Gensac spring water with French winter wheat. The result is a hint of burnt charcoal mixed with a dash of sweetness and a touch of spice. When we put together this guide of the best vodka brands, we looked at all of the new vodka brands that have joined the market in recent years as well as those that have kept their title of success for a longer period of time. We looked at the process used for distilling the spirit, the number of times each bottle was distilled as well as any unique factors included during this process.

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Made in Texas, very affordable and surprisingly great! While not as smooth and velvety as a Grey Goose, this vodka proved to be a great medium for vanilla extraction. We used Mexican vanilla beans with our Titos vodka to see if you could still taste the mocha and caramel that are inherent in Mexican vanilla beans. An alcohol that is too strong will sometimes overpower the subtle notes of a vanilla bean. In this case, Titos was gentle enough to allow the softer elements of the bean to shine through. This is a great vodka for the price. Here's why you may want to consider cognac instead of brandy for vanilla extract: If you are conducting experiments on the impact of vanilla beans in different spirits, then you want to hold the spirit constant. A Hennessy cognac from grapes only grown in the Cognac region of France and approved by Hennessy's rigorous tasting standards will provide you a consistent, standard spirit base. Try one with Tahiti beans and one with Mexican beans and you will clearly note the difference in the final extract based solely on the beans. Charcoal Filtered: Filtering with charcoal is thought to remove off-flavors in vodka after the distilling process before the spirit is bottled and sold. This helps to produce a more premium flavor with smoother notes. As a relatively straightforward spirit, vodka can be distilled from virtually anything. It’s mostly produced by fermenting potatoes or cereal grains like wheat or rye. The majority of plain vodkas—and almost all Russian vodkas—are created with wheat, while Polish vodka favors rye, and Finnish vodka goes for barley. When vodka is produced using something other than potato or cereal grain, like Ciroc, which is made using grapes, it must legally be declared on the bottle.

Neutral spirit: A term for a spirit that’s without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color. While most vodkas might be regarded as neutral, they still aren’t technically neutral spirits. As alcohol has a much lower freezing point than vodka, there’s no need to worry about it getting too cold. Freezing the vodka will remove any harsh flavors and soften the aroma and taste. This is one of those instances where price and final quality did not match up. Four Roses is a nice bourbon and a little more expensive than Maker's Mark. But something about its bold spice and honey tone made it a difficult marriage with vanilla beans. The final taste was too complicated and hard to find an application for. While it wasn't the worst bourbon extract that we ever tried, it certainly didn't meet its mark in our experiment. Indeed, most research concludes that any gluten protein is technically removed from the spirits during the extensive distillation process. Mix it into a highball glass with tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, ice, and any other spices and flavorings to complement the flavors before stirring and garnishing with a celery stalk.

Grey Goose's lineup of flavored expressions is crafted with their winter wheat vodka serving as the base. Grey Goose La Vanille was one of the first flavored vodkas to be released by the company. Now it has returned after 15 years of absence due to popular demand. It's a complex and refined vodka that is infused with natural vanilla essence from Madagascar vanilla beans. Creamy with caramel, vanilla, white chocolate, and floral notes, the expression is bottled at 80 proof.