Orange Tincture

In my research into vintage cocktails you sometimes come across an ingredient that simply can’t be purchased anymore. In those cases you either search for a substitute or make one. As part of a recipe I need something called “orange tincture”.

• Fill half of a jar with dried orange peel
• Fill remainder of jar with high-proof vodka (such as Smirnoff Blue Label)

Let sit for two months. Strain and filter

So it looks like I can proceed sometime toward the end of January.

This isn’t unusual. As I was visiting the [Oak Leaf][1] restaurant the other day I noticed that Justin has several “science experiments” going on at the bar.

Sometimes that true vintage experience takes time.

UPDATE: Two month later, it was ready to be filtered:

The liquid had turned a dark orange color, but it seems that the dried orange peel really soaked up the vodka. Out of a Claussen pickle jar I only got a little more than a cup:

While I was expecting about twice as much, I can adjust my recipe to deal with it, but it is something you should think about when making this.