Winter Warmer Cocktail Infusion Kit

If you like the idea of a cozy winter cocktail with almost zero effort at serving time, these dehydrated cocktail kits are the way to go.

In this post we are sharing how to make our Winter Warmer cocktail infuser kit. You prep a jar with dried fruit, spices, and sugar, then add whiskey or dark rum at least overnight so it can slowly infuse in the fridge. When it is time for happy hour, all you have to do is strain and pour.

These jars look pretty, are simple to put together, and make fantastic low cost holiday gifts. They are perfect as hostess gifts, stocking stuffers, or to bring along to a winter cabin weekend or camping trip.

Along with the classic Winter Warmer kit, you will also find a few other flavor pairing ideas below. The recipe card at the bottom is for the Winter Warmer version.

How Cocktail Infusion Kits Work

The basic idea is simple:

1. Layer dried ingredients into a jar: Add dried fruit, spices, and sugar to a clean, completely dry jar.
2. Add the liquor ahead of time: When you are ready to infuse, fill the jar with liquor. For the Winter Warmer, we recommend whiskey, bourbon, or dark rum.
3. Let it infuse in the fridge: Seal the jar and let it sit in the refrigerator for at least overnight, ideally 24 to 72 hours, so the flavors can infuse.
4. Strain and serve: Once the flavor is where you want it, strain out the fruit and spices. The infused liquor is ready to serve over ice or used as the base for a simple cocktail.

Note: These are not “instant” cocktails. Plan to add the alcohol at least a day or two before you want to serve them.

What You Need

To make a batch of cocktail infusion kits you will need:

• Jars: Clean, completely dry jars with lids (pint sized or 16 ounce jars with a wide mouth work well)
• Dehydrated fruit: Oranges, apples, pears, lemons, cherries, etc.
• Whole spices: Cinnamon sticks, star anise, whole cloves, allspice berries, cardamom pods, fresh ginger slices (dried), etc.
• Sugar cubes: Regular sugar cubes, or sugar cubes that you have pre-soaked with bitters and dried out in a dehydrator
• Labels: To note the flavor and suggested liquor

Vacuum seal the jars by using a device like this to extend the life of the kit—this is particularly helpful when making them as gifts!

How To Assemble The Infusion Kits

1. Start with clean, dry jars:
Make sure the jars and lids are completely dry. Moisture can shorten the shelf life of your kits.
2. Layer the ingredients:
Add the dried fruit, spices, and sugar cubes to the jar in layers. This makes the jars look nice and helps the flavors distribute evenly once you add the liquor.
3. Seal the jars:
Close the lid and tighten it. At this point, the jars are shelf stable for a while, as long as everything inside is fully dried.
4. Store the dry kits: When sealed in a mason jar and kept in a cool, dry place, these kits will stay fresh for about 1 month. If you vacuum seal the jar, they will last 6 months or longer.
   
   

How To Infuse

When you are ready to infuse:

1. Add the liquor:
Open the jar and fill it with your liquor of choice until it reaches just below the rim.
2. Infuse in the fridge:
Seal the jar and give it a gentle shake. Place it in the refrigerator and let it infuse for several days. After about 3 days, start tasting.
3. Strain and store:
Once the flavor is where you want it, strain out the fruit and spices and discard them. Pour the infused liquor back into the jar or into a clean bottle.
4. Shelf life:
The infused liquor will keep for several months in a cool, dark place.

Storage And Safety Notes

• Make sure all fruit is fully dried before assembling your kits. Any moisture will shorten the shelf life and potentially cause mold.
• Store dry kits in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight.
• Once infused, keep the liquor in a cool, dark cupboard or the fridge.
• If anything ever smells off, has visible mold, or looks cloudy in a way that seems suspicious, play it safe and discard.

Fresh Off The Grid

Winter Warmer Cocktail Infuser

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Infusion time 3 days d

Makes: 1 jar

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• 5 dried orange slices
• 5 dried apple slices
• 3 dried ginger slices
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 5 whole cloves
• 3 allspice berries
• 1 star anise
• 4 sugar cubes add a few shakes of bitters and/or vanilla extract and let it dry

To infuse

• Whiskey, bourbon, or rum

Instructions

 

1. Layer ingredients into a clean, dry, pint sized jar and seal.*
2. To infuse, open the jar and add your liquor of choice, filling to just below the rim. Seal and gently shake. Let it infuse for several days in the fridge. Check the flavor each day.
3. Once the flavor is where you want it, strain out the ingredients, discard, and add the infused liquor back into a clean jar.
4. The infused liquor will last several months.

To Package as a Gift

1. Package the cocktail kit in a nice mason jar and add a tag with the infusion instructions. You could include a small bottle of liquor to infuse it with. Adding a mason jar shaker lid is a fun touch, too!

Notes

*When sealed in a mason jar and kept in a cool dry place, these kits will stay fresh for about a month. If you vacuum seal the jar, they will last 6+ months.

Storage And Safety Notes

• Make sure all fruit is fully dried before assembling your kits. Any moisture will shorten the shelf life and potentially cause mold.
• Store dry kits in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight.
• Once infused, keep the liquor in a cool, dark cupboard or the fridge.
• If anything ever smells off, has visible mold, or looks cloudy in a way that seems suspicious, play it safe and discard.

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Nutrition is an estimate based on information provided by a third-party nutrition calculator

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Flavor Combinations To Try

Here are some of our favorite flavor combos to use as a starting point. Amounts are flexible, so feel free to adjust based on the size of your jar and personal taste.

Winter Warmer (Featured) 

• Dried orange slices
• Dried apple slices
• Dried ginger slices
• Cinnamon sticks
• Star anise
• Whole cloves
• Allspice berries
• Sugar cube  (add a few shakes of bitters and/or vanilla extract and let it dry)
• To infuse: Whiskey or rum
• To serve: Serve over ice, or warm gently with a splash of hot water for a toddy-style drink.

Old Fashioned

• Dried orange slices
• Sugar cubes pre-soaked with bitters
• Dried cherries
• Cinnamon sticks
• To infuse: Whiskey or bourbon
• To serve: Serve over ice with an extra orange peel if you have one.

Spiced Apple

• Dried apple slices
• Whole cloves
• Cinnamon sticks
• Star anise
• Sugar cubes
• To infuse: Whiskey, rum, or vodka
• To serve: Top with a little soda water for a lighter drink, mixed with a little warmed apple cider, or serve straight over ice.

Mulled Orange

• Dried orange slices
• Cinnamon sticks
• Whole cloves
• Star anise
• Allspice berries
• Cardamom pod, cracked
• Sugar cubes
• To infuse: Whiskey, brandy, or rum
• To serve: Serve warm or over ice, or mixed with some warmed apple cider/juice.

Mulled wine variation:
Instead of infusing with liquor, add the contents of the jar and a bottle of red wine to a saucepan. Simmer gently for 15 to 20 minutes to let the flavors blend, then serve warm.

Spiced Vanilla Pear

• Dried pear slices
• Dried lemon slice
• Dried orange slice
• Cinnamon stick
• Whole cloves
• Vanilla bean, split lengthwise, OR a few drops of vanilla extract on sugar cubes and let dry
• Sugar cubes
• Optional add-ins: Allspice berries, star anise, dried ginger slices
• To infuse: Brandy, rum, vodka, or bourbon
• To serve: Serve over ice with a splash of soda water, or stir with ice and strain into a chilled glass.