Sweet tea vodka...potential holiday gift?

[krhm]

On Halloween night, a neighbor came by with a drink for me...an Arnold Palmer. Made with sweet tea vodka and lemonade, it was a little too sweet for my taste, but I was very intrigued with the idea!

So this past weekend, I picked up a bottle of sweet tea vodka, and DH and I experimented. Turns out that I LOVE it with just the juice of half a lemon...it tastes just like my summer iced tea with lemon and not alcoholic at all (that is dangerous for me, though!). He liked his in a little bit of apple cider, for more of a fall riff.

Because it's so versatile and tasty, I'm thinking of making some for holiday gifts. Has anyone ever tried to? Any thoughts about how long it might need to infuse?

Here's a NYTimes article on the fast rise to fame: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/dining/11vodka.html. And I'm pretty sure I saw it in a summer issue of Bon Appetit.

[Terri_A]

Ahhhh....Sweet Tea Vodka...one of my favorite things! I discovered it this summer and even did a blog post about it during my 30 days of Beverages. I would think that this would be a great gift for anyone you know who enjoys this sort of thing. I think it might be a bigger hit in south, but who knows! I've never seen a recipe for making it although I'm sure a google would give you plenty to start with -good luck!

Editing to add I just found this, although I haven't a clue what a "handle" of vodka is -

1. 1 handle vodka
2. 2 1/2 cups of sugar
3. 5 family size tea bags

Just pour the vodka into a pot, sift the tea bags for about 20 minutes, mix in sugar and bam!

[cocoa'smom]

Originally Posted by Terri_A

Ahhhh....Sweet Tea Vodka...one of my favorite things! I discovered it this summer and even did a blog post about it during my 30 days of Beverages. I would think that this would be a great gift for anyone you know who enjoys this sort of thing. I think it might be a bigger hit in south, but who knows! I've never seen a recipe for making it although I'm sure a google would give you plenty to start with -good luck!

Editing to add I just found this, although I haven't a clue what a "handle" of vodka is -

1. 1 handle vodka
2. 2 1/2 cups of sugar
3. 5 family size tea bags

Just pour the vodka into a pot, sift the tea bags for about 20 minutes, mix in sugar and bam!

A "handle" is the big 1.75 liter bottle that usually has a handle to carry it. I learned that term from my 20 yr. old DD. That's what the kids these days call them Thanks for posting the recipe. I love sweet tea vodka.

[avariell]

Definitely a bigger hit in the South as this Northern gal thought to herself - OH GROSS SWEET TEA!

However, for the right recipient, I think alcohol is always a great gift.

[avariell]

Oh and slightly off topic, but for those of you who enjoy these sorts of concoctions - I hear Jaeger with coke tastes like sarsaparilla tea. (I tasted it once and it reminded me a little of weak root beer.)

[heavy hedonist]

umm, vodka with iced sweet tea is called an ice pick-- and people in my area have been drinking it for a half century or so. we have it by the pitcher here in summer-- and yes, it's very good. the original ice pick, i learned from a very old cocktail recipe book, was made with unsweetened tea and a dash of bitters, but no one uses bitters anymore. a fave of mine is a stoly-o and tea with an orange slice instead of lemon. it's coomon enough that i can order a double tall stoly-o and tea w/orange without further explanation... we like our vodka here!

[Meganator]

Originally Posted by avariell

Definitely a bigger hit in the South as this Northern gal thought to herself - OH GROSS SWEET TEA!

I don't know - I first had it in Three Lakes, Wisconsin! When I got home, I got myself right over to Spec's to get some.

FWIW, I like the Carolina brand; I was told by the guy at Spec's that Firefly is sweeter, and I thought Carolina was plenty sweet.

[Terri_A]

Originally Posted by heavy hedonist

umm, vodka with iced sweet tea is called an ice pick-- and people in my area have been drinking it for a half century or so. we have it by the pitcher here in summer-- and yes, it's very good. the original ice pick, i learned from a very old cocktail recipe book, was made with unsweetened tea and a dash of bitters, but no one uses bitters anymore. a fave of mine is a stoly-o and tea with an orange slice instead of lemon. it's coomon enough that i can order a double tall stoly-o and tea w/orange without further explanation... we like our vodka here!

But this is iced tea infused vodka that's been sweetened - it's not mixed with sweet tea....big difference from my vantage point.

[krhm]

Originally Posted by Meganator

FWIW, I like the Carolina brand; I was told by the guy at Spec's that Firefly is sweeter, and I thought Carolina was plenty sweet.

Wow...if Firefly is sweeter, I'm glad I bought Carolina! I may live in the South, but I order my iced tea unsweetened, or if I have the opportunity, I mix half sweet and half unsweet!

Thanks for the recipe, Terri_A (and the clarification of a "handle," cocoa'smom!). I read your CL thread of cocktail recipes but didn't remember the sweet tea vodka. If it only takes 20 minutes to steep, I am totally in. Will try this and report back (probably not with the full handle, though!).

I think it's an interesting mixer with lots of possibilities. As I noted, DH added his to apple cider, and it gave it a whole new flavor. And if you're making your own, you can experiment to make it as sweet/unsweet as you want, and play with the different kinds of tea.

[Anne]

I friend of mine made something like an ice pick but used market spice tea with less than the usual amount of sugar since the spices added a bit of sweetness. The taste was wonderful but personal consumption rate was something I had to monitor quite closely since I'm not accustomed to hard alcohol.

[Home Chef]

The Firefly is very sweet but I will have to try your tip of using lemon juice!

[heavy hedonist]

Originally Posted by Terri_A

But this is iced tea infused vodka that's been sweetened - it's not mixed with sweet tea....big difference from my vantage point.

i got that, sweets! my point was just, this is neither a new flavor combination nor idea. it's been done for a long, long time. a well-established treat.
and one of my fave treats, i'll admit.

[Tutalady]

When we were in Russia a couple of weeks ago, we visited a Vodka Museum.......they had 2800 different kinds but told us that only one is the true RUSSIAN VODKA.
And then I saw this:
http://gbu.yuku.com/topic/43374

[katygirl]

This thread prompted a trip to the liquor store. I am sipping a Carolina Brand sweet tea infused vodka (I actually did half vodka, half water) and lots and lots of ice and lemon juice. Not very seasonable but tasty-tasty!