No, goji berries do not grow in Colorado. However being one that likes her antioxidants as much as the next girl, and being game to infuse anything (hide your children and your pets) the idea of infusing vodka with goji berries popped to mind awhile ago.
With anti-oxidants being all the rage, infusing some into vodka for ‘power cocktails’ (wink) seemed a great choice! Easy Goji Berry Infused Vodka is a fun spirit to make. Perfect for citrusy Goji Berry Vodka Martinis!
Though I’m not infusing something local or seasonal as is my culinary persuasion, I am using favorite vodka from a local company, Altitude Spirits. Vodka 14 has a beautiful clean flavor which I’m sure is highly influenced by the water.
This is something all my distiller friends have continued to beat into my head when illustrating the mathematical proportion of water in a bottle of spirits, thus making the water quality very important and Colorado’s spirits particularly gifted in that regard. Altitude Spirits is a Boulder-based company and distills Vodka 14 at the foot of the Teton mountain range in Idaho.
Before leading you down the primrose path I will say goji berries have a distinct flavor. They are sweet but not completely.
Goji berries are purchased dried so I’m sure that affects the flavor; if this were a Creative Writing class assignment I’d flunk out as I do not know how to articulate their flavor. It is unlike anything else I’ve tasted and a taste like it’s doing something for you; not medicinal, but a bit serious, and herbal.
Pleasant but something to grow accustomed to. If I grew up in the Himalayas, their origin, I’d probably taste that way too. I’m sure to survive there the plants get down to business and are dense with nutrients.
When infusing the vodka the berries plump up right away and are a gorgeous shade of bright red. I found when eating the reconstituted berries they were quite delicate versus their usual leathery dried selves.
Goji Berry Vodka Martini
It seemed apropos when considering incorporating the vodka into a cocktail to go full on ‘Super Food’.
Instead of traditional ‘mixers’ I’ve included Brain Toniq and a fizzy version of Acai juice, sure to leave you looking 10 years younger and 10 years smarter for the drinking.
Brain Toniq, billed at the ‘clean and intelligent think drink’, has a light, floral flavor with light carbonation. It has ‘no fake anything’ just herbs, agave nectar and natural compounds.
Recipe
Goji Berry Infused Vodka + Martini recipe
Ingredients
Goji Berry Infused Vodka
- 1 cup quality vodka
- ½ cup dried goji berries
Goji Berry Vodka Martini
- 1 ounce Goji Berry infused vodka
- 1 ounce lemon vodka homemade or purchased
- 1/2 ounce Citronage or other orange liqueur
- Splash Acai juice
- Brain Tonic (or regular tonic) to fill
Instructions
Goji Berry Infused Vodka
- Combine vodka and goji berries in a sealable glass jar and store in a dark, cool place for one week.
- Taste and decide if a stronger flavor is desired. If not, remove the goji berries (I would not discard them myself; I’d eat them at a minimum). If so continue to taste until you like the flavor.
Goji Berry Martini
- In a shaker with 1 cup crushed ice, combine both vodkas and the Citronage.
- Shake and strain into a martini glass. Add the splash of Acai juice. Fill to desired level with Brain Tonic.
Gudrun says
Beautiful photos! Never thought of making infused vodka with our local stash (San Francisco Bay Area has several local distilleries), great idea. And the goji berries are so pretty for the holidays, would make a nice pre-Thanksgiving cocktail!
BigFatBaker says
What a way to liven up the same ol' happy hour! These are so pretty and festive for this time of year.
Cake Duchess says
These photos are so pretty, Toni. I would love to try one of these pretty drinks. So pretty and festive…perfect for the holidays. 🙂
EA-The Spicy RD says
Hmm…it's only 9 am and here am craving a martini! I guess I'll have Rebecca from Chow and Chatter to blame if I start drinking martinis for breakfast. Lol! But seriously, this sounds fabulous (and looks gorgeous too!) I'm so happy Rebecca led me to your website. Cheers!
Chef Dennis says
I love it! I am a vodka drinker, although its been some time, sounds like a really nice infusion! I agree with Carolyn, you are the queen of the yummy cocktail!
Eliotseats says
Sounds like another “homemade” Christmas gift to me! There is no better way, I am sure, to get those antioxidants down the hatch!
Carolyn says
Boy I wish I lived near you, because you are the queen of the yummy cocktail! We would be very good friends. By the way, the cranberries arrived today. Thank you SO much.
Elisabeth says
Toni-I have never taste Gojee berries, or even try to find any locally. Love the genius creation for the martini. Such a pretty color, and to be able to taste the berries on the skewers!
Have a wonderful weekend:DDD
xoxo
Lea Ann says
Oh why oh why aren't you my next door neighbor??? 🙂 And by the way, love that skewer of berries. Fabulous idea.
Sandra says
You mean if I dirnk this I'll be smarter?!?! This is one to try and I'll be on the lookout for 14 vodka around here. Thanks for the info on Gojee also and Congrats on being a part of it.