Name: Rhubarb Infused Vodka
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 d 5 min
Yield: 600
Ingredients: 10oz (290g) fresh or frozen rhubarb stalks; 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar; 2 1/2 cups (600ml) vodka

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This homemade rhubarb-infused vodka is so delicious and easy to make! Fresh rhubarb is steeped in vodka until flavored to your liking.

The rhubarb gives a delicious tart flavor to the vodka, and it’s the perfect process to start in spring when your rhubarb plant is flourishing. The pink vodka will be perfect for summertime cocktails.

close up of rhubarb infused vodka in a bottle with a rhubarb next to the bottle.

Infusing spirits like vodka and gin with fruit is a great way to bring natural flavors and color. Technically rhubarb is a vegetable, but it’s used as a fruit.

This rhubarb vodka is a great way to brighten up your homemade vodka cocktails. You can keep things really simple and just serve it with lemonade or club soda over ice or in more fancy pink cocktail recipes.

Ingredients

You only need 3 ingredients for this delicious infusion.

Rhubarb – The essential ingredient to bring the natural rhubarb flavor without any artificial flavors. These can be fresh rhubarb or frozen rhubarb.
Vodka – Unflavored vodka. The quality of vodka isn’t too important as it’s being infused, but try to choose at least a middle-shelf variety.
Sugar – Just a little sugar is used to macerate the rhubarb prior to steeping. It enhances the rhubarb flavor a lot. If you to skip this step and the sugar, you can.

See the recipe card for quantities.

Equipment

Cloth or a fine mesh strainer to remove the rhubarb.
Large glass jar with a tight-fitting lid to infuse the vodka. Avoid using a plastic container for infusing; glass jars are always best. This avoids the chance of the taste of plastic seeping into the drink.

Instructions

There is very little work involved in making this homemade rhubarb vodka recipe. You need time, as it needs a few days to infuse.

First remove the leaves of the rhubarb and chop the rhubarb into chunks.

rhubarb infused vodka being made in a jar by sugar being poured over rhubarb.

Put the sliced rhubarb into a clean jar and then add the sugar. Pop the jar in the refrigerator and leave the rhubarb to macerate in the sugar for at least 6 hours or overnight.

rhubarb infused vodka being made in a jar by vodka being poured over rhubarb.

The sugar will draw out the moisture in the rhubarb and it increases the flavor. Once macerated, pour vodka over the rhubarb.

rhubarb infused vodka being made in a sealed jar.

Add on a sealed lid and give the jar a bit of a shake.

Place the jar in a place out of direct sunlight.

rhubarb infused vodka being made in a large sealed jar.

Store the vodka in a cool dark place and give the jar a little shake each day.

Let the rhubarb infuse the vodka for a minimum of 3-4 days or up to a week.

Straining the vodka

The total time needed for infusing depends on preference. After 3 days, have a taste test. If it is infused to your liking it can be strained.

If not, you can leave it up to a week to infuse it even more.

cooked rhubarb being poured into a muslin cloth into a glass bowl.

Balance a clean cloth or coffee filter over a bowl and strain out the rhubarb infusion.

cooked rhubarb being strained through a muslin cloth into a glass bowl.

Pour the vodka into a clean bottle, one with an airtight seal. (You could just reuse the original vodka bottle.)

rhubarb infused vodka in a bottle with a rhubarb next to the bottle.

Variations

You can add in other flavors too! The type of fruit could be changed, or by adding extra flavors to the rhubarb.

Lemon – add a few slivers of lemon rind to make rhubarb lemon vodka
Rhubarb vanilla vodka – Scrape the seeds from a vanilla bean and muddle it along with the rhubarb before adding the vodka.
Mint leaves – Fresh mint goes very well with rhubarb. Try adding a few leaves of mint to the infusion.
For other fruity vodkas – instead of rhubarb, try vodka infusions with blueberries, feijoas, plums, raspberries or strawberries to name a few.

Storage

This delicious flavored vodka can last in a sealed bottle or jar for up to 12 months in a cool place out of sunlight. If your room temperature is hot, it’s best stored in the refrigerator.

Yield: 600ml