Recipe: Homemade Peppermint Schnapps

Homemade Peppermint Schnapps
Source: Homemade Liqueurs by Dona Z. Meilach

12 to 14 tablespoons fresh or 6 teaspoons dried, well-crumpled mint, peppermint, or spearmint leaves OR 2 to 3 teaspoons of pure mint or peppermint extract
3 cups vodka
1 teaspoon glycerine, optional
1 cup sugar syrup*

If using mint leaves:
Steep leaves in vodka for 10 days and shake bottle occasionally. Strain and filter. Be sure to press all the juices from the leaves with a spoon against the strainer. Add syrup and glycerine. Mature 2 weeks.

If using the extract:
Combine all ingredients, shake well. Mature at least 24 hours. A week or two will enhance the flavoring.

If yield is too weak, add more leaves or extract and repeat aging/straining phase.

*For sugar syrup, boil together 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water; cool.