If you have a bottle of Vanilla Extract with the original Vanilla Bean Pods intact, will adding additional alcohol to the bottle replenish the Vanilla Extract? The answer to this question is a definite “Yes, at least once, but it may affect the quality of the Vanilla Extract.” Experiments must be conducted in order to determine a number of sub-questions in this topic:
- How much of the original alcohol can be replaced at a time? I.e., when should replenishment take place?
- How many times can the alcohol be replaced before the Vanilla Bean Pods “wear out”?
- Does the size of the container affect the ability to replenish?
- Do Grade A Vanilla Bean Pods replenish more or less than Grade B Pods?
The overall question, “Can you replenish your Vanilla Extract?” is definitely a “Yes”. When this bottle of Vanilla Extract was created in March, 2023, it was allowed to sit for more than three months before its first use. Over the next 12 months, the level of the Vanilla Extract fell to allow the top edge of the Vanilla Bean Pods to be exposed to air. A search of various Vanilla Extract websites and videos noted that “if the beans aren’t fully submerged in the alcohol (i.e., exposed to air), they could mold and foul the entire batch.” It was determined that “topping off” the extract would be a good idea, but resulted in a batch of cinnamon rolls that have entered our family lexicon as “boozy cinnamon rolls”. Apparently, the cinnamon rolls were made before the replenishment was completed.
That same bottle of Vanilla Extract has had approximately three ounces of alcohol added twice in about 18 months, and it is considered the best bottle in the cabinet. Unfortunately, no attempt was made at recording when the replenishment was done, nor how much alcohol was added, nor how long after replenishment the Vanilla Extract returned to full strength. Therefore, the answer is “Yes, but with unknown variables attached.”
In the methods outlined below, there is a reference to the “sugar cube test”. This is from Manion’s “Tasting Vanilla Extract” page.
Sub-question 01 and 02 – How much and how long?
Method
A bottle of Vanilla Extract will be dedicated to these experiments. It will be allowed to age for at least three months, then 25% of the Vanilla Extract pulled off and stored separately WITHOUT THE BEAN PODS. Additional alcohol will be added to the Vanilla Extract bottles and a sugar-cube test will immediately be conducted on the replenished bottle vs the Vanilla Extract pulled from the bottle and stored separately. There should be a significant difference in the two bottles.
This test will be repeated at weekly intervals until no difference is detectable.
After the original Vanilla Extract reaches full strength, the experiment will be repeated with another 25% removed and stored separately. And repeated over and over until the Vanilla Extract does not return to full strength.
Preparation
A pint (375 ml) glass bottle of New Amsterdam vodka was prepped on 15 May, 2025. This bottle is stored and shaken every week with the half-pint “weekly” bottles. Once it has aged appropriately, the tests will begin.
Results
This will be updated as the results become available
Sub-question 03 – Does size matter?
Method
In the meantime, some of the vanilla from each batch is used to make samples (usually cookies or syrup), and one bottle of each “flavor” is sacrificed. The recipe calls for 4 tsp of Vanilla Extract, so approximately 50% of the content is used. I’ll do the sugar cube test weekly to see how long it takes to get close to full strength, then make another batch of cookies with the same container to do a taste test against another of similar age.
Preparation
Three bottles that are down about 50% are available. The two rum-based bottles were topped off with Bicardi, and the one vodka-based bottle was topped off with Titul. One can clearly see the difference between the two replenished rum-based bottles (first and third in line) with the untouched rum-based bottle between. The vodka bottles are not so clearly different.
Tests will be made weekly to determine how long it takes for the bottles to return to full-strength.
Results
2 oz bottles: Two weeks is NOT ENOUGH! Just Sayin’.
This post will be updated as the results are determined.
Sub-question 04 – Grade “A” vs Grade “B”
Method
Once again, the question of whether paying extra for Grade A vs Grade B Vanilla Bean Pods is to be addressed. Does one grade respond to replenishment better than the other? As the A vs B tests are conducted, the same bottles will be used for replenishment tests. Surely at least 25% of the Vanilla Extract will be used in the test. Once that test concludes, the bottles will be topped off with the same brand of vodka and sugar cube tests will begin. Once the sugar cube tests indicate the Vanilla Extract has recovered sufficiently, more in-depth tests will be conducted.
Preparation
The bottles being used for Grade A vs Grade B tests have been prepped and are aging.
Results
This post will be updated as the results become available.
