If your've never made your own vanilla you've got to try it. It's nothing like the store bought kind, not even good quality pure extracts (and it's way cheaper). People will wonder what happened to your baking. It goes from average to incredible as soon as you start using this vanilla. You can use more than is usually called for in a recipe because there isn't any of that bitter after taste. Just make sure that if you're using lots you cut back slightly on some of the other liquid. It also makes a good Christmas present. You can try it using any sort of hard liquor you want, I've simply listed my preference. Also, Make sure you're using Vanilla beans from Madagascar, the cheaper ones from Mexico aren't true vanilla beans are actually toxic. You can reuse the beans up to three times (just let it steep a little longer each time) and once they've been all used up you can dry them and add them to your sugar. They'll still release flavour. The cook time refers to the time it takes to steep it, I always cheat and start using it early though.