06/21/2026
Vanilla season is officially underway!
Today I started:
🤎 60 oz of vanilla extract
🤎 50 oz of vanilla bean paste
For the extract, I went all in with 100% 90-proof Parrot Bay Coconut Rum. The coconut notes pair beautifully with vanilla and create an incredible depth of flavor as it steeps. Did I mention this is DOUBLE FOLD!! Will get very nice intense flavor!
For the vanilla bean paste, I decided to experiment a little:
50% Parrot Bay Coconut Rum
50% Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
And before anyone asks… yes, it was absolutely the right call. The warm spice notes from the Captain Morgan combined with the subtle coconut from the Parrot Bay create a flavor profile that is rich, warm, and downright dreamy.
Now comes the hardest part… waiting. Just 30 days for my paste… but 18mo for my extract!
Madagascar Mexican vanilla beans are tucked away and doing their thing. In a few months these jars will be liquid gold, packed with thousands of tiny vanilla bean specks and layers of flavor you just can’t get from store-bought vanilla.
The house smells amazing, the jars are full, and future Heather is going to be very thankful she started these today. ❤️