5 Homemade Gourmet Vinegar Flavors to Make Easily at Home

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These 5 Homemade Gourmet Vinegar Flavors to make easily at home are a great way to use up the fresh herb bounty you may have growing in your garden. Not only are they delicious and beautiful, but they’re also super easy to make and are great gifts as well! Get a jump start on the gift giving season with this easy DIY!

Jars of Gourmet Vinegars to Make Easily at Home

Look at these beautiful gourmet vinegar flavors you can make easily at home! I have seen them for sale in so many gourmet stores for outrageous price tags, but you don’t need to spend the money! Made with just about any type of vinegar you can buy at the store and fresh herbs from your garden, they’re SO easy to make! They keep for 4- 6 months on your counter top or in your fridge – but they won’t last long because they are delicious!

ingredients for homemade gourmet vinegar

The flavor varieties for homemade gourmet vinegar are endless. Use whatever herbs and edible flowers you have growing in your garden and a high quality vinegar. Think apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, red wine vinegar (although it’s hard to see the herbs in the dark vinegar), and champagne vinegar. Then head out to your garden if you have one, or the store if not, and grab some fresh herbs and spices. I combined everything in Clear Glass Beverage Bottles and closed them up with the included White Metal Plastisol Lined Lug Caps.  

5 Homemade Gourmet Vinegar Flavors to Make Easily at Home

Homemade gourmet vinegar can be used to liven up so many dishes. Use them in homemade salad dressings, to marinate meat, in fruit salads and other desserts, and in veggie dishes too. The options are endless. Here are the five different vinegar varieties I made to get your creative juices flowing!!

1. Gourmet Greek Garlic Herb Vinegar – 

Fabulous for meat marinades and homemade salad dressings (like this creamy roasted garlic salad dressing) and delicious on roasted veggies too!. Combine two sprigs fresh oregano, one sprig fresh basil and one garlic bulb (separated into cloves and peeled) in two cups red wine vinegar.

Gourmet Apple Cinnamon Vinegar

2. Gourmet Apple Cinnamon Vinegar – 

Great for fruit salad and salad dressings. Combine 1 chopped apple with a handful of cloves and two cinnamon sticks in two cups apple cider vinegar.

3. Gourmet Marigold Vinegar – 

Did you know marigolds are edible flowers? They are! Marigolds have a spicy, citrusy flavor and a marigold vinegar is nice addition to meat marinades and homemade salad dressings. Combine one cup marigold flowers with two cups champagne vinegar.

homemade Gourmet Hot Pepper Vinegar

4. Gourmet Hot Pepper Vinegar – 

Great for dipping sauce, homemade salad dressings, and meat marinades too! Combine one tablespoon peppercorns with five or six jalapeno peppers. Make sure to slit the peppers before adding them to the jar to really release their juices. Combine with two cups white wine vinegar for a delicious combination.

Gourmet Citrus Mint Vinegar

5. Gourmet Citrus Mint Vinegar – 

how to make herbed vinegar easily at home

Another great vinegar for fruit salads or as a meat marinade (especially for lamb). Combine two springs fresh mint with zest of one lemon (spirals if you can! And hats off to you!) plus several lemon slices in two cups apple cider vinegar.

In addition to vinegar and herbs, you’ll also need these supplies for your homemade gourmet vinegar:

Glass beverage jars. You can use these cute glass flip-top jars or any other type of jar, including canning jars you may already have on hand.

You’ll also need a funnel to assist in getting the vinegar in the jars. Because of the acidity of the vinegar, you will need to put a layer of wax paper between the vinegar and the lid if you use a  metal lid.

Printable instructions for the gourmet vinegars to make easily at home

5 Gourmet Vinegars to Make Easily at Home

jars of homemade herbed vinegar

Easy to make herbed gourmet vinegars make great homemade gifts and are a wonderful way to use up your garden bounty of fresh herbs!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups vinegar of choice: red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or champagne vinegar
  • Several springs fresh herbs, fruits, edible flowers, garlic, and or spices

Instructions

  1. Sterilize glass containers by boiling for 10 minutes.
  2. Heat vinegar to just below boiling.
  3. Add herbs, fruits, spices, etc to jar.
  4. Pour heated vinegar into the jar. Shake to combine.
  5. Store jars in cool, dark spot for 3-4 weeks, gently shaking the jar every week to help the flavors meld.
  6. After the desired flavor is reached, strain the vinegar to remove add-ins. Discard the herbs, vegetables or fruit. Pour strained vinegar into clean sterilized jars and cap tightly. A few sprigs of fresh herbs, fruit or spices can be added for a decorative touch.
  7. Store in the fridge for 4-6 months.

Notes

NOTE: If flavored vinegar molds or shows signs of fermentation such as bubbling, cloudiness or sliminess, it should be discarded immediately.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 500Sodium: 1400mgCarbohydrates: 80gProtein: 40g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram tagging @simplifylivelove! I love to see your photos!

Now that you see how easy it is to make your own gourmet vinegars at home, what varieties will you make?
These 5 homemade gourmet vinegar flavors make the perfect edible gifts. They are beautiful and easy, perfect for marinades, salad dressings, & more!

About Michelle Marine

Michelle Marine is the author of How to Raise Chickens for Meat, a long-time green-living enthusiast, and rural Iowa mom of four. She empowers families to grow and eat seasonal, local foods; to reduce their ecological footprint; and to come together through impactful travel.

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10 Comments

  1. in the first examples of various herbs to add to each vinegars directions say add herbs then pour vinegar to bottles. Then directions say pour heated vinegar over herb combo’s, then strain after several weeks and add to clean bottles

    1. Yes, that’s right. They flavors will meld quicker if you use heated vinegar. You might have a slight flavor after 24 hours, but letting the flavors combine over a period of several weeks will give you a more robust vinegar flavor.

  2. After the vinegars are flavored, can they be canned to preserve? I just do not have that much room in the frig. Thanks Kathy

    1. Yes, you can can them to preserve if you want them to last longer than 3 months – process pints for 10 minutes in a water bath canner, Kathy. 🙂

  3. Since this is vinegar, is it necessary to store in the refrigerator? I’m thinking of making these as wedding gifts for my son’s wedding. I’m concerned about giving anything that must be refrigerated as I’m not sure guests will follow directions.

    1. Honestly, I don’t store mine in the fridge, but food safety guidelines do recommend it. YMMV. Good luck! 🙂

  4. Do I have to use glass bottles or could I recycle a plastic container. I notice in the store that some vinegars come in a plastic container?

    1. You can probably use whichever type of container you want. I prefer glass, but plastic would work as well if you aren’t concerned about chemical leaching.