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Buffalo Trace Bourbon Double Vanilla Ice Cream

Course Dessert
Cuisine American, American Southern
Keyword Bourbon and Double Vanilla Ice Cream, Buffalo Trace Bourbon Ice Cream, French Vanilla Ice Cream
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Ice Cream Churning time 45 minutes
Servings 1 quart
Author David of Sunset & Sewanee

Equipment

  • measuring spoons and cups
  • knife
  • cutting board
  • instant read thermometer or candy thermometer
  • mixing bowls (3-4)
  • heavy bottom sauce pot
  • wire whisk
  • rubber spatula
  • ice cream maker
  • ice cream storage container with a tight-fitting lid

Ingredients

  • 2 cups heavy cream, split into 1 cup portions
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • ¾ cup sugar, granulated
  • tsp salt, kosher
  • 5 egg yolks, separated
  • 1 whole vanilla bean split and seeds scraped out
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp bourbon, preferably Buffalo Trace or better

Instructions

Prepare the Vanilla Pods

  • Prepare the vanilla pods by slicing the pod in two with the sharp tip of a knife. Then, use the back of the blade to scrape the vanilla seeds from the pods. Reserve both seeds and pod.

Infusing the Milk/Cream

  • Measure out 1 cup of the cream and 1 cup of whole milk and add these to a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Using a whisk, incorporate the sugar and salt. Whisk until the temperature reaches (180°-190°F/82°-88°C). Be careful not to boil the mixture!
  • Add the split vanilla pods and the seeds. Stir to incorporate. Remove from heat and allow the vanilla to infuse the milk/cream for 1 hour.

Prepare the Eggs-Bowl 1

  • Crack and separate the yolks of the egg from the egg whites. Save the egg whites for another use. Place the yolks in a small or medium-sized mixing bowl. Whisk the eggs slightly and reserve.

Prepare an Ice Bath-Bowl 2

  • In the larger, bottom mixing bowl, place around 2-3 cups of ice and some cold water; over this, place another medium mixing bowl and add the reserved cup of cream.
  • Place a sieve over the mixing bowl containing the cream and reserve.

Making the Ice Cream Custard

  • Once the milk/cream/vanilla pod mixture has soaked for 1 hour, place the pot back over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, and bring the temperature to (185°-190°F/85°-88°C) with an instant-read thermometer. Then, turn the heat to low. (Vanilla pods should still be in the cream/milk mixture.)
  • Remove the milk/cream/vanilla from the heat and pour a small amount over the whisked egg yolks (Bowl 1), about 1/3 cup. Whisk the egg yolks with the hot cream to temper the eggs.
  • Once the milk/egg is mixed with the hot milk/cream/vanilla mixture, place back over low heat. Stir constantly until the egg yolks thicken the custard (about 1-2 minutes). Monitor the heat. Do not heat the custard past (195°F/90°C).
  • To test thickness, dip the spatula or a spoon into the custard mix and draw a line down the center using a finger. Hold the spatula or spoon up sideways and if the custard does not bleed across the line you drew with your finger, it's good to go.
  • Pour the hot custard over the sieve with the reserved cup of cream (Bowl 2) over the ice bath.
  • Use a rubber spatula to work the ice cream custard through the sieve.
  • Use the spatula to scrape the bottom of the sieve into the ice cream custard. Discard the vanilla pods leftover in the sieve.
  • The ice bath will rapidly cool down the ice cream custard. Once the custard is below (75°-85°F/24°-30°C), add the pure vanilla extract and the bourbon. Stir to incorporate thoroughly. The ice cream custard is now ready for the ice cream machine, or you can store it refrigerated until you need it.

Making the Ice Cream

  • Pour the ice cream custard into the ice cream machine. Use a rubber spatula to get out all of the excellent vanilla seed fragments from the bowl. Follow the instructions that came with your ice cream maker.
  • When the ice cream has formed, pour into an ice cream container and place in the freezer to stiffen the ice cream (about 4 hours). The ice cream is now ready to serve. Because of the alcohol content, the ice cream will be a soft-serve consistency straight out of the freezer.

Serving the Buffalo Trace Double Vanilla Ice Cream

  • Use an ice cream scoop to serve the ice cream in a dish, bowl, or parfait glass. Try doing with Luxardo Maraschino Cherries, Walker's Scottish Shortbread, Swedish Rosettes, Norwegian Krumkake, or Italian Pizzelle.