Vanilla Beans Can Help Level Up An Otherwise Mediocre Whiskey

For the people who have mastered their whiskey palate, a mediocre dram can be pretty depressing to taste neat. Fortunately, infusing it with vanilla bean pods can help.

When enjoying any type of whiskey, whether it’s a peated whiskey from Speyside or a bourbon from Kentucky, vanilla is one of the most prevalent notes, which is why this hack works.

For every 8 ounces of whiskey, you’ll want to use between one to two vanilla pods. This means for a standard 750 milliliter (25.36 ounces) bottle, three to six pods should suffice.

Simply split the pods lengthwise, add them to the whiskey, and close the cap. Keep the bottle in a cool, dry place for a week or two, conducting a taste test every couple of days.

Once you’re satisfied, fish out the pods with a pair of chopsticks. Alternatively, you can strain the infused whiskey through a cheesecloth and transfer it into a new clean bottle.

Note that the exact number of pods will depend on your taste preference and the quality of the whiskey; a harsher whiskey might benefit from more vanilla to smooth out the flavors.