Last year I collected a lot of spruce tips and filled up the freezer. This year instead instead of freezing it all, if I could create a spruce essence by extracting the rich flavour instead of storing all the spruce tips in bulk, it would last longer, have a stronger flavour and be compact in size.
Here’s a bold, well-balanced spruce essence recipe for 1 cup of vodka, using needles, unripe cones, and a hint of bark for depth. Adjust based on your taste preferences!
Ultra-Flavorful Spruce Vodka Essence
Makes: ~1 cup
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Steep Time: 4–6 weeks
Ingredients
- 1 cup (240ml) 40% vodka (or higher proof if available)
- 1 cup tightly packed fresh spruce needles (young, bright green tips best)
- 1–2 unripe green spruce cones (soft, thumb-sized; optional for resinous depth)
- 1 small strip (1-inch) of inner bark (optional; peel from a young branch)
- 1 tsp lemon zest (brightens flavor; optional)
Tools
- 16-oz (500ml) clean glass jar with lid
- Cheesecloth/fine strainer
- Dark glass bottle for storage
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients
- Rinse needles/cones (if dusty) and pat dry.
- Crush needles lightly with a mortar/pestle or chop roughly.
- Slice cones into quarters with scissors (exposes resinous core).
- Peel only the pale inner bark (skip if unsure).
- Infuse
- In the jar, layer:
- Spruce needles (pack tightly).
- Chopped cones and bark (if using).
- Lemon zest (if using).
- Pour vodka over everything, ensuring full submersion.
- Seal jar, shake gently.
- Steep
- Store in a cool, dark place.
- Shake daily for first week, then 2–3x/week.
- Taste at 4 weeks: If desired intensity is reached, strain. If mild, wait up to 6 weeks (bark may add bitterness over time).
- Strain & Store
- Strain through cheesecloth, squeezing out liquid.
- Optional: Filter again through a coffee filter for clarity.
- Store in a dark glass bottle (keeps for 1–2 years at room temp).
Flavor Profile & Adjustments
- Bright/Piney: Use only needles + lemon zest.
- Resinous/Woody: Keep cones + bark (reduce steep time if too bitter).
- Stronger? Add 1 tbsp vodka-soaked needles to the strained liquid for 1 extra week.
Need more of essence or have a lot more spruce tips?
How to Scale Up Safely
1. Maintain Ratios
- Base Recipe:
- 1 cup vodka : 1 packed cup spruce needles : 1–2 cones (optional).
- Scaled x3 Example:
- 3 cups vodka : 3 cups needles : 3–6 small cones.
2. Use the Right Equipment
- Jar Size: For 3 cups vodka + spruce, use a 1-quart (1L) mason jar.
- Straining: A large fine-mesh sieve + cheesecloth handles bulk better.
3. Adjust Steeping Time
- Larger batches don’t need longer steeping—still 4–6 weeks.
- Exception: If using bark, taste at 2 weeks to avoid over-extracting bitterness.
Bonus: Batch Efficiency Tips
- Prep All Spruce at Once: Chop needles/cones uniformly for even extraction.
- Layer Ingredients: Alternate vodka and spruce in the jar to prevent clumping.
- Shake Smart: Agitate daily for the first week, then 2–3x/week.
Yield Expectations
Batch Size (Vodka) Spruce Needed Finished Essence* 1 cup 1 cup ¾–1 cup 3 cups 3 cups 2¼–3 cups
*(After straining—spruce absorbs some liquid.)*
Storage Solutions
- Dark Glass Bottles: Use 4–8 oz bottles for easy dispensing + longer shelf life.
- Fridge: Keeps for 1+ year (room temp: 6–12 months).
Final Advice
Start with 1 cup if unsure, but if you love the flavor, scale up to 3 cups next time—it’s barely extra work for 3x the yield!
