Savor the delicious flavors of the forest by making your own fir tip vodka! Infusing vodka with fir tips is an easy and fun way to capture the magical aroma of conifer trees.
I look forward to fir tip season all year. I love seeing the bright green new growth poking out from the ends of the branches on the conifer trees. But these edible needles aren’t around for long, which is why I always preserve some by making both fir tip sugar and an infused vodka.
Harvesting fir tips (and other conifer tips)
As with any wild food, always be 100% sure you’re confident identifying plants before foraging.
Although this recipe is for fir tip vodka, you could use any edible conifer tips for this. Most conifer trees have edible new growth, including fir, spruce, pine, and hemlock. However, the yew tree is poisonous, so please harvest with care and make sure you know your trees before heading out!
Flavor will vary between species and even among individual trees. You may get flavor notes of lemon, grapefruit, pine, resin, juniper, and bitter orange. Give the fir tips a little nibble while harvesting to get an idea of what your infused vodka will taste like.
The best time to harvest fir and spruce tips is when they first emerge out of their papery casings in the springtime. They will be vibrant – almost neon – green and very tender. They should be easy to pinch off with your fingers.
Remember to be a responsible forager and only collect what you will use! Once you’ve finished collecting them, remove any papery casings, hard mature needles, stems or twigs that may have broken off with the tips. You may also want to give them a gentle wash before using.
Disclaimer: Foraging for wild edibles can be rewarding, but it must always be done with great care. The information on this blog is provided for educational and inspirational purposes only. It is your responsibility to properly identify any wild plants before consuming them. Some wild plants are toxic or may closely resemble edible species. If you are uncertain about any plant, do not eat it. Always consult a trusted field guide, local expert, or professional forager before consuming wild foods. The author of this blog is not responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use or misuse of the information provided.
Making fir tip vodka
It’s super easy to make fir tip-infused vodka. All you need to do is puree the conifer tips with vodka and let it sit and infuse for about a week. Then, strain out the solids and it’s ready to drink.
Boozy tip
Use a decent vodka that you actually enjoy drinking. The flavor of the vodka will definitely come through, so I recommend using a quality one!
Because fir tips often have citrus, pine, and resiny flavors, I find that fir tip vodka tastes great as a replacement in recipes that call for gin. It works well with citrusy drinks (try this Fir Tip Lemon Drop Martini!), sours, and martinis. Or you could even drink it on its own, thoroughly chilled and served in a cold coupe glass.
Store the fir tip vodka in the freezer. This will keep it well preserved and ready to serve.
Fir Tip Vodka
Equipment
- Food processor
Ingredients
- 1 cup tightly packed fresh conifer tips, (fir, spruce, pine, or hemlock)
- 1 750ml bottle good-quality vodka
Instructions
- Pick through the fir tips, removing any that are damaged or pest-ridden. Remove the papery casings.
- Purée the fir tips with a cup or so of vodka in a food processor, blending until fir tips are broken down, about 1-2 minutes.
- Pour this mixture into a clean glass jar. Add a bit more vodka to the food processor and blend again for a few seconds to pick up any leftover bits of fir tips. Add to the jar, topping with any remaining vodka.
- Put a lid on the jar and give it a good shake. Put the fir tip vodka in the refrigerator and allow to infuse until well-flavored, about a week. Try to remember to shake the jar at least once a day while it's infusing.
- Strain the infused vodka into a clean jar using multiple layers of cheesecloth, a jelly bag, butter muslin, or a coffee filter. You can repeat the straining process as needed to remove any solids. Discard the fir tip solids.
- Store the fir tip vodka in the freezer until ready to use.
Notes
Did you try this recipe?
Be sure to leave a comment below!
