Weapon X

[Reginald Ret]

Spices behave WEIRD in alcohol - you get more of the basic flavor pulled out, and so cinamon can easily overpower a lot.  It's like drinking the cinamon challenge.

The recipe I posted may be pretty involved, but it does blance the flavors decently, and adds the sweet so you don't regret it AS much. 

Good luck, keep experimenting, and please tell us what you find!

I didn't have enough vodka to dilute it drinkable levels.
I now have several jars of concentrated flavor just sitting around.
I need to get more vodka.
Also, I'm considering lemons to add another concentrate to my arsenal.

[Richter]

The flavor you want out of the lemon is the oil in the peel.  Use a potato peeler and try to get as much yellow, and as little white pith as you can.  Do not use a zester - it jsut shred the oil into the air, and not into your booze. 

I also tried something like what you described with straight vodka and ghost peppers.  nothing else.  It is a chemical weapon, not a drink, and I doubt anything will dilute it enough, ever.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

A good zester or zest peeler will do the job. like a small grater, not a grinder or a macerator.