Caribbean Coffee Liqueur

2 cups water
3 cups sugar
2 ounces instant coffee
1 fifth vodka -- good quality
2 each vanilla beans -- cut in 1" pieces

Make a light syrup by boiling first 3 ingredients for 14 minutes, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cool. Mix well with vodka. Pour into 2 bottles. Add 1 vanilla bean to each bottle, stopper tightly. Age in cool place for 30 days, lightly agitating bottles occasionally. After maturity, shelf life is about 8 months. Add glycerin if you desire a thicker liquid.

Liqueur isn't just for after dinner. It makes an unusually tasty ice cream or cake topping or use it to make flavored coffee. These easily made, specialty drinks often produce a superior (less sickly sweet) product than store bought. An added bonus is they cost less. You might try your hand at creating your own recipes. Frozen, canned or dried fruits as well as nuts and extracts are some ingredients to experiment with.