2-3 whole vanilla beans
1 cup Brandy, Vodka or Bourban
Split vanilla beans lengthwise with a knife, leaving the seeds inside intact.
Place beans in a jar, cover with alcohol and cap tightly.
Agitate the mixture by shaking the jar once each day for 4 to 6 weeks.
The mixture will turn dark brown and become stronger in flavor with time. You can infuse the vanilla beans for as long as you like and can also add new vanilla beans to the jar to make a stronger or more concentrated extract.
Once the flavor of the extract has reached the desired strength, strain the liquid from the beans and bottle. Use cheesecloth or coffee filter to strain.
Amber colored bottles are best for preserving the flavor, but any glass bottle will do. Vanilla extract will last indefinitely and will become even more pronounce in flavor as it ages.
