Ingredients

• 4 cups water
• 1 cup instant coffee crystals (such as Folgers® Classic Roast)
• 2 cups light brown sugar
• 2 cups lightly packed dark brown sugar
• 1 (750 milliliter) bottle 190 proof grain alcohol (such as Everclear®)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and halved

Instructions

1. Combine water and instant coffee in a pot; bring to a boil. Stir light brown sugar and dark brown sugar into coffee, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring every 15 minutes, for 3 hours. Remove from heat and cool completely.
2. Pour coffee mixture into a clean, large glass jar. Add grain alcohol, vanilla extract, and vanilla bean; cover with a tight-fitting lid. Let sit in a dark place, shaking occasionally, for 1 month. Divide into bottles, leaving a piece of vanilla bean in each.