Top 10 Extract Alcohols Blind Taste Testing Results! We have a winner

Vanilla Extract Taste Test

After making vanilla extract with ten recommended alcohols and conducting blind taste tests with viewers, family, and friends, the creator found a clear overall winner: Captain Morgan coconut rum. The results reflect the group’s preferences; individual tastes may differ.

Overall Ranking

1. Captain Morgan coconut rum
2. Captain Morgan white rum
3. Bacardi rum
4. Grey Goose vodka
5. Kirkland French vodka
6. Everclear
7. New Amsterdam vodka
8. Ocean vodka
9. Smirnoff vodka
10. Tequila

The creator tracked how often each alcohol advanced in the comparisons and how often it was chosen as a favorite. The top four extracts—both Captain Morgan rums, Bacardi, and Grey Goose—had no detectable alcohol flavor or smell in the tasting samples.

Testing and Preparation

• Each extract was made with four ounces of Madagascar Grade A vanilla beans per quart jar, plus a 750 ml bottle of alcohol.
• Testers sampled the extracts in plain Greek yogurt sweetened with granulated sugar.
• Each sample received 30 drops of extract, and preparation was kept consistent across the test.
• Tequila was added by the creator as an extra comparison; the other selections came from viewer recommendations.

Recommendations and Observations

The creator suggested that the coconut rum’s 70-proof strength, smoother rum character, and light coconut flavor may help explain its result. Its sweetness may also complement vanilla.

The creator recommended starting with coconut rum or trying Kirkland French vodka as an alternative. Kirkland was described as a good value compared with Grey Goose. For anyone using Everclear, the creator suggested diluting it to 70 proof; the Everclear tested was 100 proof.

Future Tests

Future projects will explore whether different vanilla beans affect flavor and whether different extracts make a noticeable difference in baking.

People, Products, and Organizations

The video features Shane of Clement Family Farms; participants Audra and Fran; Shane’s mother; and Tim, Trinity, and their daughter from Blue Collar Homestead. Vanilla Bean Kings donated beans for the project.

The alcohols tested included Captain Morgan coconut and white rums, Bacardi, Grey Goose, Kirkland French vodka, Everclear, New Amsterdam, Ocean, Smirnoff, and tequila.