Recipe: Homemade Kahlua (using Everclear)

HOMEMADE KAHLUA

"This recipe was given to me by a very nice cocktail waitress at a little neighborhood Mexican restaurant called Dave and Dar's in Denver about 25 years ago. The restaurant is long gone, but the recipe still lingers."

3 cups sugar
3 cups water
4 tablespoons instant coffee powder
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 pint grain alcohol (190 proof Everclear)

Bring sugar and water to a boil. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Add coffee. Let cool to room temperature.

Add vanilla and grain alcohol. Bottle and let set for at least one week, and preferably a month or longer, before serving.

Note: I have also had it after allowing it to age for 15 minutes, and it was still pretty good, but definitely a little rough around the edges.

Makes 3 pints
Source: Toby Jermain / Recipezaar