When it comes to crafting the perfect cocktail or a refreshing non-alcoholic beverage, infusions are a secret weapon that can elevate your drink from ordinary to extraordinary. At the bare minimum, infusions can help you craft a beverage experience that takes you into pleasant, uncharted territories and explore flavor combinations you may have never considered before. While even beginner infusers are often familiar with classic infusion ingredients like citrus, mint, and berries, there’s an entire world of unexpected ingredients waiting to be explored. Here, we share four of our favorite (and tasty!) infusion ingredients that tend to be overlooked. The next time you're looking to get creative with your cocktails, try them out - or for a ready-to-go solution, check out Sweet Kee's infusion kits - perfect for pairing with wine, liquor, or any non-alcoholic beverage.
1. HONEYCOMB
While not typically associated with infusions, honeycomb is a great way to naturally sweeten an infusion and is the perfect base for layering on additional flavors. The natural sugars in honeycomb break down and dissolve in liquids to create a very nuanced flavor profile that surpasses what you will get from simply adding sugar or liquid honey.
To create a honeycomb infusion, simply break off a chunk of the honeycomb and place it in a jar, pour your liquid over it, and allow it to sit for several days (or for several hours if doing a non-alcoholic infusion), tasting daily. When ready to consume, remove the remaining beeswax and strain. Honeycomb pairs particularly well with Bourbon or Whiskey, and Vodka. We especially enjoy adding a honeycomb to our Blackberry Lemon Martini or Bourbon Punch infusion kits.
Honeycomb complements most non-alcoholic infusions as well. For example, create a spirit-free version of our Bourbon Punch by infusing with a zero-proof whiskey or bourbon, and adding honeycomb to your infusion. Or, infuse our Strawberry Peach Margarita infusion kit in lemon-flavored water, replacing the sugar with honeycomb to create a refreshingly fruity and lightly sweetened mocktail. For honeycomb infusion ideas outside of the cocktail/mocktail realm, honeycomb teas are a no-brainer. For a fun spin, get creative and add your favorite spices, fruits, or even veggies to play around with unique flavors.
2. CHOCOLATE
As chocolate lovers (did you know Sweet Kee's founder used to work for a world-renowned chocolate company???), chocolate is one of our FAVORITE ingredients to infuse into drinks, especially cocktails. Not only do we get to drink the smooth and velvety deliciousness of chocolate, but chocolate can take an otherwise ordinary drink to new heights and is a great foundation for additional flavors like chai, cinnamon, mocha, and cherry.
There are a multitude of ways to infuse chocolate into your drinks. Sweet Kee's seasonal Chocolate Martini infusion kit, for example, includes a chocolate and cocoa powder blend to enhance vodka or gin. However, you can also infuse chocolate into your drink using cocoa nibs or chocolate syrup. And while it might seem odd, infusing chocolate with red wine is a wonderful pairing due to the dark fruit-forward notes in wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Port. Our Red Wine Sangria infusion kit is ripe for adding chocolate paired with your favorite red wine as a base. With chocolate infusions, we recommend shaking your infusion a bit more frequently than other infusions to ensure the chocolate blends well into your drink.
For non-alcoholic drinks with chocolate, the opportunities are endless. Many classic cocktail infusions can be made non-alcoholic by simply replacing the alcohol with tonic water. Sparkling water and milk (dairy or non-dairy, and especially flavored milks) also make great bases for non-alcoholic infusions, while fresh herbs like mint and ginger add brightness. One of our favorite non-alcoholic infusions is a chocolate chai tea, made by infusing tea leaves, chocolate, and chai spice in hot water overnight. For coffee lovers, infusing whole coffee beans or coffee grounds in chocolate flavor oils can allow the coffee to draw in the chocolate flavors before brewing. Just keep in mind that most non-alcoholic infusions don't require days but rather a few hours to infuse. The key to knowing when your infusion is ready is to taste regularly.
3. EDIBLE FLOWERS
Edible flower infusions are a lovely way to elevate your beverages and transform your drinks into a sensorial journey. You can use a wide variety of edible flowers to infuse into virtually any drink, but we particularly love infusing with hibiscus, rose, elderflower, and lavender. Hibiscus, which is known for its vibrant red hue and tart flavor, is exceptionally versatile, while roses offer a fragrant and romantic layer to beverages and are available in a wide array of color options for visual effect. Elderflower and lavender both add a subtle sweetness and elegance to drinks, with lavender also contributing slight herbal notes.
Given the versatility of edible flowers, there is no limit to your infusion possibilities. Try a cold infusion by placing a few elderflower or lavender blossoms inside a chilled bottle of champagne or white wine, and allow it to sit for several hours to add a delicate floral essence to your wine. Another fun take on a cold infusion is to transform your infusion into floral ice cubes. Start by infusing edible flowers in your chosen beverage. Mix 1 part alcohol with 5 parts juice or water (for alcoholic infusions), then pour into an ice cube tray and freeze. Once frozen, add your cubes to any variety of drinks to add a refreshingly floral touch.
For a more traditional floral infusion, add your choice of edible flowers to your beverage base and allow to sit for 3-5 days with alcohol, or up to 2 days for non-alcoholic infusions. We like to pair hibiscus with teas, sparkling water, sodas, vodka, and light rum. In fact, our Hibiscus Rum Punch is a founder's favorite, combining hibiscus with tropical and citrus fruits to create a bold and flavorful rum punch. Infusing edible flowers such as roses, elderflower, and lavender with vodka and gin maintains the delicate floral flavors. For a non-alcoholic option, try infusing elderflower and lavender with iced teas and lemonades, and serve them chilled for a refreshing boost.
4. PEPPERS
Infusing drinks with peppers is a great way to add a spicy kick to your favorite beverages. Peppers, with their diverse heat levels and distinct flavor profiles, add a surprisingly refreshing dimension to drinks. The key to a successful infusion with peppers is balance - enhancing your drink with flavor, heat, and spice without overpowering it.
Sweet flavors are perfect for striking just the right balance against the heat and spice of peppers. When infusing, try pairing peppers with tropical and citrus fruits to explore a variety of sweet and spicy profiles. Our Spicy Pineapple Margarita infusion is a great place to start. This "just add alcohol" (or non-alcoholic beverage) infusion kit balances the sweetness and brightness of pineapple and other fruit flavors with a jalapeño kick. Make this infusion non-alcoholic by infusing with a jalapeño limeade or spicy mango lemonade.
For a savory pepper infusion, make a spicy Bloody Mary by infusing vodka with a blend of peppers (we suggest jalapeño - or habanero if you want to amp up the heat), along with fresh vegetables, and herbs and spices such as garlic, celery, onion, peppercorn, horseradish, and dill. Strain and mix the resulting infusion with tomato juice, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce for a vibrant drink.
Peppers are also great for water infusions if you're avoiding alcohol. Add in cucumbers, herbs such as mint and basil, and some fresh fruit, for deliciously refreshing drinks with a kick.
Access our full range of Sweet Kee's wine & cocktail infusions online at www.sweetkees.com.