Vodka cocktails: homemade orange liqueur and scrumdriver (Video)

Each month in 2013 we will be featuring a different spirit and cocktails that include that ingredient as its cornerstone. January's featured spirit is vodka.

Vodka is a distilled beverage made of water and ethanol with small parts of impurities and flavorings. Vodka is made by distilling fermented substances like grains, potatoes, and at times fruits or sugar.

Today's features include a recipe for homemade orange liqueur which will take about a month to store before drinking. The second is a change-up of the old favorite the Screwdriver.

Homemade Orange Liqueur

Ingredients:

• 3 cups Vodka
• 3 large oranges
• 1 1/3 cup superfine Sugar

How to prepare:

1. Pare very thinly the rind from the oranges.
2. Blot the peel to remove any excess oil.
3. Put peel in a 4 cup screw-top jar.
4. Add 2 cups vodka, and close the jar.
5. Store in a cool, dark place for 2 days.
6. Remove peel and add remaining vodka.
7. Close the jar and store in a cool dark place at least 1 month to age.

Grey Goose vodka

Photo credit: 

Grey Goose vodka

Scrumdriver

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz vodka
• 4 1/2 oz Orange juice
• 4 dashes Lime juice

How to prepare:

1. In a highball glass which has been half-filled with ice add vodka and orange juice
2. Add 4-5 dashes of lime juice

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