Homemade Bourbon Vanilla Extract

Making your own Bourbon Vanilla Extract is incredibly simple and cost-effective. It’s perfect for holiday gifting and can be used in any number of recipes! 

What Is Vanilla Extract?

In a nutshell, vanilla extract is made by soaking vanilla beans in ethanol (i.e. alcohol). Over time, the fragrant vanilla flavor is extracted from the vanilla beans as they sit in the alcohol — hence the name vanilla extract. 

Vanilla extract can be purchased from any major grocery store in the US. I’ve purchased my fair share of vanilla extract over the years, but DIY vanilla extract is so much better! 

Why does homemade vanilla extract trump store-bought? Well, for starters not all store-bought vanilla extracts are created equal. 

Pure vanilla extract should contain only vanilla beans, alcohol, and maybe water. However, many vanilla extracts sold at the grocery store are actually “imitation vanilla extract” AKA vanillin. 

Vanillin is a man-made, imitation vanilla. Because it’s made in a lab, it’s much cheaper than purchasing pure vanilla extract (vanilla beans are the world’s second-most expensive spice, after all!), but it also lacks the same complex floral notes of real vanilla. 

If you find yourself purchasing imitation vanilla extract to save a few bucks, it’s worth making your own at home! The vanilla beans are more expensive upfront, but making your own vanilla extract in bulk actually winds up being cheaper in the long-run.  

Can You Make Vanilla Extract with Bourbon? 

Absolutely! You can make homemade vanilla extract with bourbon as well as other liquors such as vodka, brandy, and rum. 

Bourbon is sweeter than other types of whiskey, and its undertones of vanilla and caramel pair beautifully with the natural flavor of the vanilla beans. 

I’ve made my own vanilla extract using various liquors over the years, but today I’ll be sharing my go-to recipe for making vanilla extract with bourbon. This is a very detailed guide, so keep reading for my top tips and tricks for making bourbon vanilla extract! 

What Does Bourbon Vanilla Extract Taste Like? 

Bourbon vanilla extract has a deep vanilla flavor, with undertones of caramel and oak from the bourbon. The vanilla beans add subtle floral notes as well.  

When making homemade vanilla extract, I take the time to expose the seeds in the center of each bean before adding the entire vanilla bean to the bourbon whiskey. The result is ultra rich vanilla extract! 

Tools Needed to Make Your Own Vanilla Extract

You need very few kitchen tools to prepare your own vanilla extract from scratch. The main thing to remember is to wash the glass bottles before filling them with the bourbon vanilla! The alcohol will sterilize the jars, but obviously you want everything to be squeaky clean beforehand. 

• Glass bottle with lid — I prefer using glass bottles rather than glass jars because it makes it easier to measure out the vanilla extract when baking. However, you may use any air-tight glass container to make bourbon vanilla extract.  
• Funnel — Is necessary for cleanly pouring the bourbon into the smaller glass bottles. 
• Glass measuring cup — For measuring out the bourbon. 
• Paring knife and cutting board — For slicing open the vanilla beans to expose the seeds. 
• Kitchen scale — Optional, but useful for measuring out the exact quantity of vanilla beans. You’ll want roughly 1 oz. of vanilla beans per 1 cup of bourbon. 

What You’ll Need to Make Bourbon Vanilla Extract 

You need just two basic ingredients to make DIY vanilla extract with bourbon:

• Bourbon
• Vanilla Beans

I’ve gone into more detail in the sections below about how to select the best bourbon and vanilla beans for making homemade vanilla extract. 

What Are the Best Vanilla Beans for Vanilla Extract? 

Traditionally, “bourbon vanilla” used to refer to the type of vanilla beans used in the extract, NOT the type of alcohol used! “Bourbon vanilla” is actually the generic term used for Vanilla planifolia, which is the most popular type of vanilla bean. 

This type of vanilla bean originated in Mexico, but in the 1800s the French developed vanilla plantations on the island of Reunion. At the time, the island was called the Ile de Bourbon — hence the name bourbon vanilla. 

For this homemade bourbon vanilla extract recipe, I recommend using Madagascar vanilla beans (sometimes called Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans). These are the most common vanilla beans sold at major grocery stores and are known for their strong, creamy flavor. 

Another reason I love this variety of vanilla bean is because it contains lots of seeds. All of those seeds are packed with vanilla flavor, and once they’re extracted in the bourbon you’re left with a potent vanilla extract. 

Other Popular Types of Vanilla Beans

With all that being said, you can make bourbon vanilla extract using any type of vanilla bean you like. There are more than 150 varieties sold around the world, so feel free to experiment until you find your favorite! 

Other popular varieties of vanilla beans include: 

• Tahitian vanilla — has a stronger floral flavor, with chocolate undertones 
• Indonesian vanilla — is milder in flavor 
• Indian vanilla — has a very full vanilla flavor, with chocolate undertones 
• Mexican vanilla — is very bold, with a slightly smoky flavor 

How to Select the Best Vanilla Beans for Extract

No matter what variety of vanilla bean you purchase for making your own vanilla extract, you should look for the following traits: 

Note that dry, brittle, or shriveled vanilla beans will release minimal flavor. That’s why I love using Madagascar vanilla beans, because they’re fairly oily and release lots of flavor!  

In my experience, my local grocery store does not sell the best-quality vanilla beans. As such, I suggest ordering your vanilla beans online for the best selection and prices. 

What’s the Best Bourbon for Vanilla Extract? 

Look for a bourbon that’s at least 35% ABV or higher (which is 70 proof). You don’t need to purchase the most expensive bourbon for making DIY vanilla extract, but you also don’t want to buy a super cheap, bottom-shelf bottle. 

Generally speaking, I prefer making vanilla extract with bourbon that has tasting notes of vanilla and / or caramel. 

Specific brands of bourbon that I recommend include:  

• Bulleit Bourbon 
• Breckenridge Bourbon Whiskey 
• Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon
• Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon 

How to Make Vanilla Extract with Bourbon 

Homemade bourbon vanilla extract is incredibly quick and easy to prepare! Just keep in mind that the vanilla beans need to sit in the bourbon for at LEAST 4 weeks before the vanilla extract can be used. 

1. Using a small paring knife, slice the vanilla beans in half lengthwise to expose the seeds. 
2. If preparing the bourbon vanilla extract in smaller glass bottles, you may wish to cut the vanilla beans in half crosswise so that they can be fully immersed in the bourbon. 
3. Transfer the vanilla beans to the glass bottle.
4. Using a funnel, pour the bourbon into the bottle. The vanilla beans must be fully submerged. 
5. Seal the bottle and store in a cool, dry place for at least 8 weeks before using. I recommend gently shaking the bottle once a week to aid the brewing process. 

Tip: You can divide the vanilla beans and bourbon into individual bottles, OR you can brew all of it together in a large bottle and then divide the extract into smaller bottles after it has finished brewing.

Tips for Making Vanilla Extract Yourself 

Bourbon Vanilla Extract Recipe FAQs 

Got questions about how to make this recipe? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.

How many vanilla beans do I need to make vanilla extract? 

Many sources say you’ll need 1 ounce of vanilla beans per 8 ounces of alcohol. That’s roughly 6 to 8 beans per 1 cup of bourbon. (A kitchen scale is useful for weighing the vanilla beans and bourbon.)

However, you can use more or less vanilla beans depending on how strong you want your extract to be.  

How long does it take to make vanilla extract?

I recommend waiting at least 8 weeks before using your DIY bourbon vanilla extract. 

However, the longer the vanilla beans sit in the bourbon, the stronger and richer the extract will be! You can likely use it by the 4-week mark, but the extract won’t be at its full potency by then. 

Can I use another type of alcohol to make vanilla extract? 

Yes! You have a few different spirit choices when making homemade vanilla extract:

• Vodka is most commonly used when making vanilla extract. It’s flavorless, so you’ll wind up with a pure vanilla-flavored extract. 
• Rum is a popular alternative and makes for a sweeter extract. 
• Brandy would also work. It also creates a sweeter extract, but less so than rum. Brandy is a good in-between choice that falls between neutral vodka and super sweet rum. 

What can I do with the vanilla bean pods after making the extract?

After your vanilla extract has aged to your liking, strain the vanilla beans out of the extract and let them dry. Then, use them to make vanilla scented sugar. 

Alternatively, don’t discard the vanilla beans. Instead, leave them in the bottle and top it off with additional bourbon as you use the extract. This essentially creates an endless supply of vanilla extract! 

How can you tell when vanilla extract is ready to use? 

You’ll know that your DIY vanilla extract is ready to use once it’s a rich brown in color, smells strongly of vanilla (you shouldn’t be able to distinctly smell the bourbon), and is fairly opaque in color. 

You should also see lots of little flecks at the bottom of the bottle — those are the extracted vanilla seeds! 

How many 8-ounce bottles can I make with a 750 ml bottle of bourbon?

750 ml = 25.3605 ounces – that’s roughly 3 cups worth of homemade vanilla extract! 

Is homemade vanilla extract expensive to make?

25 vanilla beans cost $25 or more, and you can expect to pay roughly $30-35 per 750 ml bottle of bourbon. That means you can make three batches (i.e. 3 cups) of vanilla extract for around $55. 

McCormick sells 16 oz. bottles of vanilla extract for around $45, so it should be less expensive to make your own vanilla extract in bulk than buy it from the store. 

If you don’t mind slightly less strong vanilla, or you have time to age it longer, you could use .5 – .75 ounces vanilla bean per 8 ounces bourbon to decrease the price. 

Tip: Note that while bourbon prices typically average around the same for a mid-level bottle, the price of vanilla beans can vary year to year based on climate conditions, harvest, etc. It will also depend on where you buy the vanilla beans from! 

How to Store Vanilla Extract

Store vanilla extract in a cool, dry place. Your pantry or a kitchen cupboard (NOT directly above the stove!) would be perfect. Never freeze or refrigerate vanilla beans or vanilla extract. 

How long does homemade vanilla extract last?

Indefinitely, but it’s best used within 5 years. If you opt to leave vanilla beans in the extract, you need to make sure they’re always covered in bourbon so they don’t dry out or develop mold. 

Ways to Use Homemade Vanilla Extract 

The most obvious way to enjoy your homemade bourbon vanilla is in any vanilla-flavored dessert, like ice cream or creme brulee. However, vanilla extract is used in most every baked good to add layers of flavor. 

Remember that vanilla isn’t just “vanilla flavored;” it has those nuanced notes of oak, caramel, and flora that work well in everything from chocolate brownies to spice cake! 

Add your vanilla extract to any of the following: 

• Whipped cream or stabilized whipped cream
• Creme brulee
• Caramel sauce
• Homemade soft caramels
• Vanilla cut-out cookies
• Vanilla cupcakes
• Cookies (try almond butter cookies, white chocolate lemon coconut cookies, or pistachio cookies)
• Vanilla spiced pear butter
• Glazed walnuts
• Panna cotta
• Brownies (try classic chocolate brownies or sea salt brownies)

You can also add a splash of vanilla extract to a bowl of plain yogurt to flavor it, stir it into your morning oatmeal, add it to chia pudding and overnight oats, and so much more! 

DIY Vanilla Extract Gifting Instructions 

If gifting your DIY bourbon vanilla extract to friends and family, I recommend using 6- to 8-oz bottles. Anything smaller than that feels like too little! 

• 8-oz glass bottles with attached lids
• 12 glass bottles with plastic lids
• 8 glass bottles with plastic caps 

The printable labels I recommend are the Avery Printable Waterproof Round Labels.

Try Making Bourbon Vanilla Extract at Home! 

The next time you run out of vanilla extract, give this homemade bourbon vanilla extract a try instead of buying a new bottle at the store! 

Did you think making vanilla extract with bourbon was super easy? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of this recipe.

On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see your photo of this homemade vanilla extract!

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