I love a well-balanced, complex cocktail. My favorite cocktail notes are floral, spicy, or fruity. While I'm no bartender, I think one easy way to make a complex drink, without adding extra calories, is to use infused alcohol. I suggest using vodka since it's generally clean tasting so the flavors of your vodka infusion will shine through.

I love Tito's American made vodka. I'd suggest using it for infusions because it's smooth, tasteless, and gluten free. If you're looking for great spices, try Frontier Co-op's spices because they are incredibly fresh. They are also Fair Trade Certified and organic.

I'm here to show you how easy it is to do your own vodka infusing. Here are my two favorite DIY vodka infusions using Frontier Co-op Spices + Tito's Vodka.

Vanilla Cardamom Infused Vodka

10 Frontier Co-op Organic green cardamom pods, crushed

3 Froniter Co-op Organic Whole Vanilla Bourbon Beans, sliced in half lengthwise

Drop the vanilla and cardamom in the vodka and infuse for five – seven days.

DIY Infused Vodka

 

For a light and skinny cocktail, I'd suggest creating a ‘Grapefruit Spritzer' with Q Drinks' sodas. You'll only need two ingredients for a drink that's about 114 calories.

Mix 8oz Q Grapefruit soda with one ounce vanilla cardamom vodka. Serve over ice. Enjoy!

Food Trends 2014 Q Drinks on USALoveList.com

Chai Tea Infused Vodka

Froniter Co-op Organic Whole Vanilla Bourbon Beans, sliced in half lengthwise

10 Frontier Co-op Organic green cardamom pods, crushed

4 Tbs. Froniter Co-op Organic Assam Black Tea

6 slices of fresh ginger

Drop all the ingredients in the vodka and infuse for five days. {The vodka smelled intoxicating after just five days. I think infusing it any longer might make it taste a bit bitter from the tea.}

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I suggest using this infused vodka to make an alcoholic version of a chai latte. Here's what you'll need for a drink that's about 130 calories.

Add 1 cup Silk Almond milk with 5 ice cubes, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of sugar with 1 oz vodka. Blend and enjoy!

Have you made your infusions? I'd love to hear what your favorites are!

Disclosure: USA Love List received products in this post unconditionally for review purposes. Our opinions are always our own, and we aim to write fair and balanced articles to promote only the very best of American-made products.