Try Penzey's. You can freeze the beans.

I use vodka (Skye because of the dark blue bottle.) The link below is to Penzey's where you don't have to buy huge quantities.

Here is a link that might be useful: Penzey's Vanilla

I've purchased EXCELLENT, high-quality, fresh vanilla beans from the Vanilla Bean Man off eBay. Much better price and better quality than Penzeys.

I've made peach and cherry brandy vanilla. The cherry brandy vanilla was excellent in chocolate pudding and homemade ice cream with chopped cherries in it. I also made coconut rum vanilla - great in coconut ice cream, and also plain old vodka vanilla.

I also leave one bean whole in each one - just score it top to bottom with a knife without going all the way through both sides of the bean. You can "milk" the vanilla out of the whole bean with your thumb and index finger, just strip the liquid out of the bean. This is more like "vanilla syrup" and has a lot of intense vanilla flavor, as well as the tiny seeds come out in the very dark vanilla liquid. Put the whole bean back in and use it over and over.

Grainlady