Yield: 1 quart
ingredients
directions
Special equipment: an immersion circulator, one-gallon zip-top freezer bag, coffee filter, sieve.Cook’s NoteI've found that generic or store-brand bags tend to have seals that fail so spring for national brands and make sure you use freezer bags. If the bag refuses to sink, even after you try sucking out the air, consider adding some weight to the bag. I keep a couple of 1-inch diameter stainless steel ball bearings around for just such a use.
Install an immersion circulator in a water bath and set it to 140ºF.
Place the vodka, fennel fronds, sugar, fennel seeds, cardamom seeds, green cardamom pods and star anise in a one-gallon zip-top freezer bag (see Cook’s Note). Remove as much of the air from the bag as possible then seal and submerge the bag in the bath for 1 hour (see Cook’s Note).
Transfer the unopened bag to an ice water bath. Once cool, strain the mixture through a coffee filter set inside a sieve and discard the solids. Don’t squeeze or press the solids to extract additional liquid: It will cloud the liqueur and release off flavors.
Chill before serving.