vanillacoffeeThe holidays are coming and it’s time to get those hand-made liqueurs in a cool, dark place to age.  Coffee is the main crop in Boquete and coffee has a soft, warm side when it’s combined with spirits.  Coffee liqueurs are at the top of my list of easy-to-make and enthusiastically received homemade cordials.

Each holiday season I bring out the beautiful bottles collected during the year, clean them up and fill them with delectable liqueurs for giving and for sipping on these cool evenings in Boquete.

For my Vanilla Coffee Liqueur, I decided to buy bottles smaller than usual.  The ones I like best are made in Panama by Varela Hnos. – Herrerano Seco 250 ml bottle, they are round in shape, cost less than empty bottles and 1/3 the regular size bottle; it’s the one with the white label pictured above.  The seco can be transferred to other bottles or better yet, we can make some delicious drinks using seco during the next few weeks.  I will not use seco to make my liqueur, however.  All the other ingredients in the picture go into this luscious liqueur.

Most of the ingredients you probably already have in your cupboard.  It’s easy to make strong coffee using your microwave.

A simple syrup only takes a  couple minutes to make.  We are able to get McCormick pure vanilla extract in Boquete, as well as Stolichnaya vodka and Fundador brandy.  Glycerin is available at our local drugstore.  My liqueur is made now and aging until the holidays.

For the best liqueur, I combine the ingredients when everything has cooled, that way the alcohol doesn’t evaporate.  There may be some sediment at the bottom of the bottle after your liqueur has aged, it’s easy to strain it into “gift” bottles.

Here’s my exact recipe:

2 1/2 cups water (1 1/2 cup for coffee and 1 cup for syrup)
3 tablespoons instant coffee crystals (I used Boquete’s Duran Coffee)
3 cups sugar
5 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups 80-proof vodka
1 cup brandy
1 teaspoon glycerin (available at drugstore, but is optional)

Make a strong cup of coffee using 1 1/2 cup water and coffee.  Set aside to cool.  Make a simple syrup by bringing 1 cup water and sugar to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly.  When clear, remove from heat and let stand until cool.  Pour all ingredients into a 2-quart container, cover and let stand in a cool, dark place for at least 1 month.  Pour into pretty bottles, tie with a festive bow and give as gifts.  In about a month, I’ll show you my completed bottles of Vanilla Coffee Liqueur and tell you who received them in their stockings!