Step 8: Strain and Combine

Once the flavors have developed to where you want them, it’s time to remove all the zesty party animals from your bourbon. For this process, Esmon suggests using a coffee filter. Place the filter in a cone and set it over a container. Drain each jar of bourbon separately.

To finish the bitters, begin by adding the vanilla-infused bourbon to the spice-infused bourbon. Add until desired flavor level of vanilla is reached. (You likely won’t use the entire four ounces you produced.) From there, begin adding the tea bourbon to the vanilla and spice mixture. Add until bitterness of the mixture reaches your desired level.

Esmon, who made her first homemade bitters based off of a South Indian curry recipe, explains that this is just a basic foundation, which can easily be expanded upon. “Infuse another jar with dried fruit or other herbs or spices and add that to the mix!” she says.