A chocolate whiskey infusion creates a delicious marriage that will let you add a deep chocolate flavor to your homemade whiskey co*cktails.
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How to make homemade chocolate whiskey
The process is simple. Add cacao nibs and whiskey together in a glass jar, let it sit a few days until the whiskey takes on a rich chocolatey flavor, strain out the nibs, and start using it in co*cktails.
That's it!
Infusing is a powerful way to bring flavor into your homemade co*cktails and add some excitement to your home bar, but there are a few things to keep in mind.
Quick tips for great infusions:
- Take extra care to be sure your container for the infusion is nice and clean. The best option is a glass or stainless steel jar/bottle (plastic can give off weird flavors) that has been rinsed well and free of any leftover soap or food flavors.
- NOTE: As the infusion sits it will look different. In this case the chocolate makes the whiskey a bit darker and cloudy but that's okay!
- Set the infusion somewhere you will see it so you can remember to give it a quick swirl each day.
How long should I infuse for?
You can infuse whiskey for as little as a few hours or as long as a week if you want a stronger flavor.
For this chocolate infusion, let it sit for two days before giving it the first taste. If there is enough chocolate coming through strain it to finish the infusion, if not, check it each day and finish when it has a deep coco taste.
When it's finished, the whiskey will have a dark and rich chocolate flavor that will be especially noticeable near the end of a sip and will linger after you swallow.
It won't ever taste like biting into a milk chocolate bar but that isn't what we are going for if the goal is to use it in co*cktails.
What chocolate to infuse into whiskey
The best form of chocolate to use for an infusion is cacao nibs.
They are a lightly processed form cacao beans with a rich chocolate flavor that goes together nicely with whiskey. You can usually find them in large grocery stores (in the baking or health food section) or you can grab some HERE on Amazon.
Making an infusion with actual chocolate can be done but it isn't quite the same. The result will be thick, murky looking, and too sweet to use in most drinks. Your best bet is to track down cacao nibs.
What type of whiskey to use
You can infuse any type of whiskey with cacao nibs. Bourbon, rye, and even scotch can all have slight hints of chocolate that benefit from being paired with the real thing.
But the most common chocolate whiskey infusions are made with bourbon.
Bourbon typically has sweet notes and when combined with cacao nibs results in a familiar chocolate taste with a hint of bitter to balance that sweetness.
Storing coco infused whiskey
After the solids have been strained out of your whiskey infusion it will last in a closed bottle at room temperature indefinitely.
The high alcohol content will keep it from spoiling so you can continue using it for months, but if you are making chocolate whiskey co*cktails at home it probably won't last that long.
Chocolate whiskey co*cktails to try
A Classic Manhattan will take on some lovely chocolate undertones.
The Whiskey Sour pairs the chocolate whiskey with lemon.
Try dark fruity grenadine with chocolate and citrus in the Ward 8.
Herbal amaro in the Black Manhattan is almost begging for the addition of chocolate.
PRINT RECIPE
Chocolate Infused Whiskey
Make your own homemade chocolate whiskey to mix into co*cktails and give them a new deep layer of chocolate goodness.
Ingredients
- 2 cups Whiskey - Bourbon, Rye, or Scotch
- 1/4 cup Cacao Nibs
Instructions
Add the cacao nibs and whiskey together in a clean glass jar or bottle.
Let it sit covered for 48 hours.
Taste and see if there is a rich chocolate flavor. If it is not quite strong enough let the infusion continue, checking it each day, for as long as one week.
Once it reaches a deep chocolate taste strain the liquid into a glass storage container.
Store at room temperature indefinitely and enjoy!
Notes
Be sure the containers used for infusing and storage are SUPER CLEAN and have no leftover food or soap smell. The whiskey will take on any flavor in the container and potentially ruin your infusion.
The infusion will be come cloudy but that's totally normal.
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Resting Time: 5 days days
Course: Drinks
Servings: 2 cups
Tag me at @mydrinkinghobby when you make this!
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