Capture the bright, resinous scent of spring by making your own fir tip vodka. Infusing vodka with fresh conifer tips is simple and yields a fragrant spirit with notes of citrus, pine, and resin — perfect for cocktails or sipping chilled.
I look forward to fir tip season every year. The neon-green new growth at the ends of conifer branches is fleeting, so I preserve a batch by making fir tip sugar and this infused vodka.
Harvesting fir tips (and other conifer tips)
Always be certain you can confidently identify wild plants before foraging.
While this recipe uses fir tips, you can infuse vodka with many edible conifer tips—spruce, pine, or hemlock also work well. Be aware that yew is poisonous, so harvest responsibly and only from species you can identify with confidence.
Flavor varies by species and even by individual tree. You might detect lemon, grapefruit, pine, juniper, or bitter orange notes. Taste a few tips while harvesting to preview how your vodka will turn out.
Pick fir and spruce tips when they first emerge in spring—tender, bright green tips that come free with a gentle pinch. Only harvest what you’ll use, and avoid taking whole branches or damaging trees.
Before infusing, remove papery casings, any tough mature needles, stems, or broken twigs. A gentle rinse can help remove debris or tiny insects.
Disclaimer: Foraging wild foods is rewarding but requires great care. The information here is for education and inspiration only. Properly identify any wild plant before consuming it. If you are unsure about a plant, do not eat it. Consult a field guide or local expert if needed.
Making fir tip vodka
Making fir tip vodka is quick and straightforward. Purée fresh conifer tips with a portion of the vodka, combine with the remaining spirit, let it rest to infuse for about a week, and then strain out the solids. The result is a green-hued vodka with bright botanical character.
Boozy tip
Use a vodka you enjoy drinking—the base spirit’s character will come through in the finished infusion.
Because fir tip vodka carries citrusy and resinous notes, it makes a lovely gin substitute in cocktails. Try it in lemon-forward drinks, sours, or martinis, or serve it ice-cold in a chilled glass for a simple, aromatic sip.
Keep the infused vodka in the freezer to preserve its freshness and to serve it properly chilled.
Fir Tip Vodka
Equipment
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Food processor
Ingredients
- 1 cup tightly packed fresh conifer tips, (fir, spruce, pine, or hemlock)
- 1 750ml bottle good-quality vodka
Instructions
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Pick through the fir tips and remove any damaged, discolored, or pest-ridden pieces. Remove papery casings.
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Place about one cup of tightly packed fir tips in a food processor with roughly 1 cup of vodka. Purée until the tips are broken down, about 1–2 minutes.
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Transfer the purée to a clean glass jar. Add a little more vodka to the processor and blend briefly to collect any remaining bits, then add that to the jar. Top with the remaining vodka so the tips are fully submerged.
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Seal the jar and shake well. Refrigerate and let infuse for about one week, shaking the jar once a day to help extraction.
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Strain the infused vodka through several layers of cheesecloth, a jelly bag, butter muslin, or a coffee filter to remove solids. Repeat if needed until the liquid is clear. Discard the solids.
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Store the strained fir tip vodka in the freezer until ready to use.
Notes
Store fir tip vodka in the freezer for best results.
Did you try this recipe?
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