Determine how much vanilla extract you would like to make. A standard 750 ml bottle of liquor contains slightly more than 3 cups of liquid. As a rule of thumb, 3–4 fresh vanilla beans will infuse nicely into 1 cup of alcohol.

Use a sharp paring knife to split the beans. Place the vanilla beans into an impeccably clean glass bottle or jar with a tight-fitting lid.

Pour alcohol of choice into the container—as an alternative, you can also drop the beans into a bottle of vodka or bourbon—just make sure the beans are completely submerged.

Seal jar or bottle tightly then store in a cool, dry place for at least 12 weeks. Once a week, give the bottle a good shake to disburse and diffuse the vanilla beans. The vanilla flavor will intensify the longer the beans remain in the solution.

Download the vanilla extract label printable and open in Adobe Reader. Print and cut out the labels where indicated and attach to bottles. Funnel prepared extract into individual bottles, including the beans if desired. Seal well. The extract will keep indefinitely at room temperature! Enjoy!